How did 10 gunmen storm a settlement and leave 12 dead in South Africa?

Written by: Ayman Ragab

The «Jumbers» slum in Johannesburg, South Africa, experienced a bloody night that turned into a full hour of terror, after an armed group of about 10 people stormed the informal housing complex and opened fire indiscriminately, killing 12 people and injuring 10 others, amid investigations focusing on the possibility that the attack was linked to illegal mining activities.

According to residents’ testimonies, the shooting began shortly before midnight on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, inside the Gambers settlement in the Cleveland area east of Johannesburg, and continued for more than an hour, leaving behind scenes of chaos and panic among the residents.

Sounds of gunfire

Gogo Magaka, a resident of the area, said that the sounds of gunfire continued for a long time before a heavy silence fell over the settlement, in a scene that residents described as one of the most terrifying nights the area had ever witnessed.

During his inspection of the scene on Wednesday morning, Gauteng Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombini, described the attack as "mad, ruthless and brutal," noting that the gunmen entered the settlement and began firing directly and indiscriminately.

10 attackers

Initial investigations showed that the attackers, numbering at least 10 people, arrived in the area around 11:10 pm after being dropped off near the Astron gas station opposite the settlement, before sneaking inside and carrying out the attack.

While the shock was evident on the faces of the residents, many were reluctant to give details about what happened, while one woman, who preferred not to reveal her identity, said that the gunmen moved inside the settlement targeting specific people, before opening fire indiscriminately.

Initial reports indicated that 9 people were injured, but a review of the toll during a visit by police officials to the scene of the accident revealed an additional injured person, bringing the total number of injured to 10 people, in addition to 12 dead.

Gauteng police are continuing their intensive search for suspects, while forensic investigators are gathering evidence from the crime scene to uncover the circumstances of one of the deadliest mass shootings Johannesburg has seen in recent times.