Mass Shooting in South Africa Leaves at Least 12 Dead, 9 Wounded

Local police in the town of Cleveland, east of Johannesburg in South Africa, said today, Wednesday, that at least 12 people were killed and nine others were wounded last night after armed men opened fire on the informal settlement of Jampers. As emergency medical teams were called to the scene to assist the injured, who were evacuated to various medical centers in the area, the South African Police Service (SAPS) launched a manhunt for more than 10 suspects following the attack, while district and regional detectives, together with forensic teams and police intelligence units, were deployed in the area to investigate the incident. Police said the motive for the attack is not known at this stage, and no arrests have been made so far.

According to suspicion, more than 10 suspects were dropped off from a white Toyota Quantum near a gas station in Cleveland, after which they entered the informal settlement through two entrances and opened fire on residents and community members at several locations before fleeing the scene in the same vehicle. As noted, the shooting took place in South Africa, one of the countries with the highest murder rates in the world, with an average of about 60 murders a day.