By Mapaballo Borotho
- Gauteng Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni says illegal mining is among the possible motives being investigated in the mass shooting that claimed 12 lives in Cleveland, Johannesburg.
- Police recovered a hard drive and other evidence from the scene, where three bodies were found near processing equipment.
- The motive remains under investigation, with authorities probing possible links to illegal mining activities in the area.
Gauteng Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni says illegal mining is among the possible motives being investigated following the mass shooting that left 12 people dead in Johannesburg.
He says the discovery of three deceased individuals near processing equipment forms part of the ongoing investigation into what may have led to the attack.
Mthombeni was speaking to the media on Wednesday afternoon, 10 June 2026, at the crime scene in the Jumpers Informal Settlement in Cleveland.
The shooting occurred on Tuesday evening when a group of more than 10-armed suspects allegedly opened fire on residents after arriving at the informal settlement.
The attack left 12 people dead, 10 others injured, and a community reeling from shock and trauma.
The bodies of the deceased have since been removed from the scene, while police continue to gather evidence.
Police have also recovered a hard drive from the scene, which will be analysed as part of the investigation.
The motive for the shooting has not yet been confirmed. However, police are investigating possible links to criminal activity in an area that has previously been associated with illegal mining.
“At this stage, we cannot determine what the motive is, as you know that this area is adjacent to an illegal mining area; we have suspicions that this barbaric behaviour could be linked to that. We were here three weeks ago; through those operational activities, we managed to recover more than a thousand rounds of live ammunition for an AK-47, and we arrested three suspects,” said Mthombeni.
Gauteng has experienced several violent incidents linked to illegal mining over the years, with disputes over territory and control of mining operations often resulting in conflict.
Investigations into the shooting are ongoing, and no arrests have been announced at this stage.
This is a developing story. Follow updates as the story unfolds @Kaya News on X.
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