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Multiple attackers killed 12 people and wounded at least nine others in a late-night mass shooting in the South African city of Johannesburg, police said Wednesday.

Police believe more than 10 suspects were dropped off in a minibus in an informal settlement in the Cleveland suburb of Johannesburg late Tuesday night and opened fire on people.

The attackers “moved through the area, opening fire on residents and community members at multiple locations before fleeing the scene in the same vehicle,” police said in a statement.


  Multiple attackers killed 12 people and wounded at least nine others in a late-night mass shooting in the South African city of Johannesburg, police said Wednesday. Google Earth Multiple attackers killed 12 people and wounded at least nine others in a late-night mass shooting in the South African city of Johannesburg, police said Wednesday. Google Earth

The victims were nine males and three females, according to police. Eleven of them died at the scene and the 12th died in the hospital.

Police are searching for the attackers and no arrests had been made. The motive for the shootings was not yet clear, they said.

Informal settlements in South Africa are unplanned residential areas usually made up of shacks or similar structures.

There have been several high-profile mass shootings in South Africa recently, including two in December that killed more than 20 people in total.

One of those also involved multiple shooters.


  Members of the forensics team carry a body at the scene after, according to the police, gunmen opened fire at an informal settlement in Cleveland, Johannesburg, South Africa, on June 10, 2026. REUTERS Members of the forensics team carry a body at the scene after, according to the police, gunmen opened fire at an informal settlement in Cleveland, Johannesburg, South Africa, on June 10, 2026. REUTERS

  Local residents are escorted past the body of a victim of the mass shooting, which lies covered where it fell in Cleveland, Johannesburg, South Africa. Kim Ludbrook/EPA/Shutterstock Local residents are escorted past the body of a victim of the mass shooting, which lies covered where it fell in Cleveland, Johannesburg, South Africa. Kim Ludbrook/EPA/Shutterstock


  Members of the forensics team arrive at the scene after, according to the police, gunmen opened fire at an informal settlement in Cleveland, Johannesburg, South Africa. REUTERS Members of the forensics team arrive at the scene after, according to the police, gunmen opened fire at an informal settlement in Cleveland, Johannesburg, South Africa. REUTERS

  Police believe more than 10 suspects were dropped off in a minibus in an informal settlement in the Cleveland suburb of Johannesburg late Tuesday night and opened fire on people. @SABCNews/X Police believe more than 10 suspects were dropped off in a minibus in an informal settlement in the Cleveland suburb of Johannesburg late Tuesday night and opened fire on people. @SABCNews/X

The shootings are sometimes linked to illegal mining gangs that operate in and around Johannesburg. Cleveland is a suburb connected to illegal mining activity.

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