Gauteng Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni has condemned the mass shooting that claimed the lives of 12 people at the Jumpers Informal Settlement in Cleveland, Johannesburg, describing the attack as both "heartless" and "barbaric".
Mthombeni visited the settlement on Wednesday morning to assess the aftermath of the shooting and outline police interventions following the attack, which also left nine people injured.
The shooting occurred on Tuesday night when a group of heavily armed suspects allegedly stormed the informal settlement and opened fire on residents at multiple locations.
"It is a heartless incident and, to a large extent, barbaric," Mthombeni said during his visit to the scene.
According to preliminary reports, more than 10 armed men arrived in the area in a white Toyota Quantum shortly after 8pm. The suspects allegedly disembarked from the vehicle and began firing at residents before fleeing in the same minibus.
While investigators have not yet established a motive for the attack, police suspect the violence could be linked to illegal mining activities, which have become increasingly prevalent in the area.
Mthombeni noted that the shooting comes just weeks after a major intelligence-driven operation led by police in Cleveland. During that operation, officers recovered large quantities of ammunition and arrested three suspects.
"It is concerning that we find ourselves back here today, but we have not lost the fight against illegal mining. It remains a serious challenge in this area, but through continued disruptive operations we are in a position to curb these activities," he said.
However, the commissioner cautioned that it is still too early to definitively link the mass shooting to illegal mining operations.
"At this stage, we cannot confirm that this incident is connected to illegal mining," Mthombeni added.
Police investigations are ongoing, and no arrests have been made. Authorities are continuing to gather evidence and pursue leads in an effort to identify those responsible for one of the deadliest mass shootings in Gauteng this year.