Μake us preferred on Google

At least 12 people were killed and nine others wounded in a mass shooting in South Africa, police announced on Wednesday.

More than 10 gunmen stormed an informal settlement known as Jumpers, near Johannesburg, and opened fire during the night, according to the police statement. No motive for the attack has yet been established.

Authorities have launched an extensive search for the suspects but no arrests have been made, and there is as yet no indication of what prompted the attack.

According to available information, the suspects arrived outside the settlement in a white Toyota Quantum minibus and entered through two access points. They then fanned out across several parts of the area, firing on community members before fleeing in the same vehicle.

Eight men and three women were killed on the spot, while a wounded person who was transported to a hospital died of their injuries later, officials from the South African Police Service (SAPS) said. The remaining nine were taken to hospitals with gunshot wounds.

It is worth noting that South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, averaging around 60 killings per day. Shootings in informal settlements are common in the country and are sometimes linked to gang violence and personal disputes.

A local reacts near the scene after, according to the police, gunmen opened fire at an informal settlement in Cleveland, Johannesburg, South Africa, June 10, 2026. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

The local police station said officers responded to a report of a shooting in progress at around 11:10 p.m. local time on Tuesday. Emergency medical services were also deployed to treat the wounded.

Last year, nine people were killed in a mass shooting at a tavern in Johannesburg. There are roughly three million legally registered firearms in South Africa and at least as many unregistered weapons, according to figures cited by Gideon Joubert of the South African Gun Owners Association.