12 killed in Johannesburg shooting, South African police suspect illegal mining rivalries
Gunmen stormed an informal settlement in Johannesburg late Tuesday, killing 12 people. Police suspect the attack is linked to competition over illegal mining in the area.
South African police reported that on Tuesday night, armed men entered the Jumpers informal settlement in Johannesburg, a shantytown made of metal and wooden shacks, and shot 12 people dead. The attack occurred just before midnight. Approximately 10 attackers arrived by vehicle and were dropped off before storming the area.
According to a police spokesperson, the suspects entered the settlement through both entrances and moved through the area, opening fire on residents and community members at multiple locations before fleeing in the same vehicle. Preliminary investigations revealed that eight adult males and three adult females were declared dead at the scene, while one person died in hospital.
Police stated that the motive is not yet known and no arrests have been made, but there are suspicions that the attack is related to competition over illegal mining in the vicinity. The area is located about six kilometres east of Johannesburg's city centre and near abandoned gold mines. Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni described the incident as "insane, heartless, and to an extent, barbaric."
Mthombeni noted that three weeks ago, police had swept the area, confiscating guns and ammunition for AK-47 rifles and arresting three people. Local ward councillor Neuren Pietersen told the Sunday World media site that the attackers first opened fire on a shack built over an informal mine shaft before moving to nearby taverns. He described it as a well-planned ambush.
After the attack, authorities were seen hauling away equipment believed to be linked to illegal mining activities. Illegal mining in South Africa draws people from across southern Africa and is linked to organized crime, assassinations, extortion, and other illegal activities. In December, nine people were killed in a mass shooting at a bar in the Bekkersdal township southwest of Johannesburg, linked to rivalry between illegal mining gangs. In March, soldiers were deployed to violence hotspots in Johannesburg to support police efforts against rampant crime, which President Cyril Ramaphosa has called one of the biggest threats facing the country.
