At least 12 people have been killed and nine others injured in a mass shooting at an informal settlement in Cleveland, Johannesburg, South African police report.
Authorities have launched a manhunt for the suspects involved in the late-night attack on Tuesday.
Police said more than 10 individuals were dropped off in a white Toyota Quantum near a petrol station in Cleveland. The attackers then reportedly entered the settlement through both entrances, moving through the area and opening fire on residents at multiple locations before fleeing in the same vehicle, reports BBC.
The victims included both men and women, with eleven dying at the scene and one succumbing to injuries in hospital. Emergency medical teams attended to the injured.
The local police department received a report of the shooting at approximately 23:10 local time (21:10 GMT) and immediately dispatched officers to the scene.
Informal settlements in South Africa, typically made up of unplanned shacks and structures, are frequently affected by shootings, often linked to gang violence or personal disputes. Cleveland has previously been associated with illegal mining activity, which police say may be connected to such attacks.
South Africa has one of the world’s highest murder rates, averaging around 60 deaths per day, with multiple high-profile mass shootings reported in recent months.
No arrests have been made, and the motive for Tuesday’s attack remains under investigation, police said.
