JOHANNESBURG — A massive police manhunt is underway east of Johannesburg after a heavily armed gang descended on the Jumpers informal settlement in Cleveland late Tuesday night, June 9, 2026, killing at least 12 people and leaving nine others seriously wounded.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) responded to reports of a shooting in progress at approximately 11:10 PM. Upon arriving at the settlement, law enforcement officers discovered a chaotic scene spanning multiple locations, with numerous victims suffering from close-range, multiple gunshot wounds.

According to police statements, eight men and three women were pronounced dead at the scene. A twelfth victim, a male, later succumbed to his injuries after being rushed to a nearby hospital. Nine other wounded residents are currently receiving urgent medical treatment at various regional healthcare facilities.

Preliminary investigations suggest a highly organized operation involving more than ten attackers. Police reports indicate that the suspects were dropped off near a local petrol station in Cleveland by a white Toyota Quantum minibus taxi.

The gunmen divided into smaller groups to infiltrate the dense informal settlement via two separate access points. They moved quickly through the community's narrow walkways, opening fire indiscriminately on residents at several locations before retreating to the waiting vehicle and fleeing the area.

No arrests have been made, and authorities note that the exact motive behind the massacre remains unknown.

While provincial authorities have not officially verified the cause of the attack, the suburb of Cleveland has long been a flashpoint for tensions tied to "zama-zamas"—highly organized, rival illegal mining syndicates that operate throughout the disused gold mine shafts surrounding Johannesburg.

Clashes between these heavily armed factions frequently spill into neighboring informal settlements, where turf wars over lucrative, unregulated gold deposits often result in severe civilian casualties.

A SAP has deployed specialized tactical units to the area to stabilize the settlement and gather forensic evidence. Authorities have strongly appealed to the public and the local community for any information that could lead to the identification and arrest of the suspects.