Illegal mining gangs implicated in South Africa massacre that killed 12

A mass shooting that killed 12 people in a Johannesburg settlement has intensified scrutiny of South Africa’s violent illegal gold mining networks, though police say it is too early to determine whether criminal mining gangs were responsible.

At least 10 gunmen opened fire at multiple locations in the Cleveland settlement late Tuesday before fleeing in a white vehicle, police said Wednesday, according to BBC news. 

Nine men and three women were killed. Eleven died at the scene and another later succumbed to injuries in hospital. Police have not made any arrests and are searching for the attackers and their vehicle as of Wednesday evening.

The area is known for illegal mining activity, and authorities recently seized assault rifles and other weapons during operations targeting zama zamas (name locals use for illicit miners).

“This was basically a massacre. It’s horrifying,” local politician Jack Bloom told the Associated Press, adding that the scale of the attack appeared consistent with organized criminal violence.

Illegal mining on the rise

The killings highlight the growing security threat posed by illegal gold mining syndicates around Johannesburg, where rival groups battle for control of abandoned mines and remaining gold deposits. The government deployed soldiers to high-risk areas earlier this year as authorities struggled to contain organized crime linked to the illicit trade.

Police said the attackers “moved through the area, opening fire on residents and community members at multiple locations before fleeing the scene.”

Provincial police commissioner Tommy Mthombeni described the violence as “insane, heartless and, to a certain extent, barbaric,” while cautioning that investigators have not yet established a direct connection to illegal mining gangs.

Residents said criminal activity associated with illegal mining has long plagued the settlement and accused authorities of failing to improve safety.