South African police hunt more than 10 suspects after 12 killed in Johannesburg settlement shooting

Twelve people have been killed and nine others injured after gunmen opened fire at the Jumpers informal settlement in Cleveland, near Johannesburg, South African police said. The attack took place late at night and involved multiple shooting locations inside the settlement. Police said the suspects fled in a white Toyota minibus after entering from two access points.

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Authorities said the victims were nine men and three women. Eleven people died at the scene and a 12th died in hospital, according to police. Investigators have launched a manhunt for more than 10 suspects.

They are also exploring possible links to illegal mining gangs operating in and around Johannesburg. The shooting adds to concern over violent crime in South Africa, which has one of the world's highest murder rates. Police said informal settlements are among the areas affected by this wider security problem.

The scale of the attack, with multiple victims and a large number of suspects, has increased pressure on investigators to establish who carried it out and why. The reference to illegal mining gangs is significant because such groups have been associated with organised criminal activity in and around Johannesburg. Police did not say in the statement that the attack had been confirmed as gang-related, but they said the possibility would be examined.

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That leaves open questions about whether the shooting was targeted, retaliatory or linked to other criminal disputes. South Africa has seen several high-profile mass shootings recently, including two in December that killed more than 20 people in total. The latest attack is likely to renew scrutiny of policing in informal settlements and of the criminal networks that operate there.

It also highlights the vulnerability of residents in densely populated areas where access points can be limited and emergency response can be difficult. What remains unclear is the motive, the identities of the suspects and whether any arrests have been made. Police have not said how many weapons were used or whether the victims were specifically targeted.

The investigation is continuing, and authorities are expected to provide further updates as the manhunt progresses.

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