More than a dozen suspects got out of a minibus and drove through a deprived area of South Africa's largest city, shooting at residents in a nighttime attack that left at least 12 dead and 9 wounded, police said Wednesday.
The mass shooting that occurred Tuesday shortly after 11 p.m. in a slum on the outskirts of Cleveland, Johannesburg, had all the hallmarks of a clash between organized crime gangs vying for control of illegal mining or other activities, although police indicated that the motive was still under investigation.
Provincial police commissioner Tommy Mthombeni provided an update on the casualty figures Tuesday and refused to establish a link between the murders and illegal mining until the investigation was complete.
I would say it is still too early to confirm the existence of illegal mining activities, but of course we cannot rule out that possibility," said Mr. Mthombeni.
According to police, the gunmen were dropped off in the neighborhood in a minibus "and moved around the area, opening fire on residents and community members in several locations before fleeing in the same vehicle."
According to Mthombeni, there were nine men and three women. Eleven of them died at the scene and another victim died in hospital.
A manhunt has been launched to find the suspects and no arrests have yet been made, police said.
