Mass Shooting in Johannesburg Leaves 12 Dead, 9 Wounded

At least 12 people were killed and nine others were injured in a mass shooting overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday in the Cleveland area of Johannesburg, South African police said. Security forces have launched a manhunt for the suspects, while the investigation into the circumstances of the attack is ongoing.

According to a police statement, the incident took place in an informal settlement in the Cleveland area, where gunmen opened fire on residents at several different locations. The police statement said that "more than ten suspects were allegedly dropped off from a white Toyota Quantum near a gas station in Cleveland." It added that "the suspects allegedly entered the informal settlement through its two access routes, moved through the area and opened fire on residents and community members at several different locations before fleeing the scene in the same vehicle."

According to the authorities, police were called to the scene following a report of a shooting that took place at around 11:10 p.m. local time. At the same time, medical and emergency teams were dispatched to treat the many casualties.

According to data released by police, eight men and three women were killed at the scene of the shooting. Another man who was critically wounded later died of his injuries after being taken to the hospital. Nine additional wounded victims were evacuated to various medical centers in the area suffering from gunshot wounds.

Investigators have not yet been able to determine what was behind the attack. The police statement stressed that "the motive for the attack is unknown at this stage and forms part of the ongoing investigation."

South Africa has struggled for years with especially high levels of violent crime. According to official data, about 60 people are killed in the country on an average day. Shootings in informal settlements are considered a relatively common phenomenon, and they are sometimes linked to personal disputes or gang activity.

This massacre joins a series of mass shooting incidents that have taken place in the country in recent years. Last year, nine people were killed in a mass shooting at a business in Johannesburg. According to figures cited by Gideon Joubert of the South African Gunowners' Association, about three million firearms are legally held in the country, alongside at least a similar number of unlicensed weapons.