Fear, grief and uncertainty continue to hang at the Jumpers informal settlement in Cleveland, following a tragic mass shooting that left 12 people dead and about 10 others injured.
When Sunday World visited the area on Wednesday morning, police vans and forensic pathology officials were moving the corpses. Bloodstains, abandoned shoes and shattered bottles littered the scene in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg.
Many residents were visibly shaken. Some declined to speak to the media, saying they feared for their lives and worried that the gunmen would return.
Among those mourning was Nkosinathi Mthethwa, who lost his uncle, Melusi, in the attack.
Speaking through tears, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN)-born Mthethwa described the devastating impact the shooting has had on his family.
“This happened last (Tuesday) night while I was at home and my uncle was at the tavern. When we heard gunfire, my partner and I immediately hid with the children. We had no idea my uncle had been killed,” he said.
Mthethwa said he was later called to identify his uncle’s body.
“When I arrived, I found my uncle lying on the ground among the other victims. It is a sight that has not left my mind. I have not slept since then, and my three-year-old child is still trembling with fear.”
Uncle a peaceful man
He described his uncle as a peaceful man who avoided conflict. He said the family was struggling to understand why he became a victim of the violence.
Mthethwa also raised concerns about ongoing criminal activity in the area, particularly illegal mining.
“Illegal miners do as they please here. People are killed, women are raped and residents are abused, but those responsible are rarely held accountable,” he added.
The family’s grief has been compounded by financial hardship.
Mthethwa said they now face the challenge of transporting his uncle’s body back to KZN for burial. The family is from Vryheid.
“We do not know where the money will come from. Our family is not well off, and we are struggling to figure out how we will bury him,” he said.
Community is traumatised
Community leader Zanele Ndimande said residents remain traumatised and fearful in the aftermath of the attack.
“When this happened I had just said my evening prayers, even cats went silent. It was that traumatic and disturbing. We have lost many people we knew. We do not even know if we will be able to sleep tonight (Wednesday) because we are afraid these people might come back,” she said.
Ndimande said many residents have no involvement in illegal mining activities and are uncertain why their community has become the target of such violence.
Manhunt underway
According to authorities, a Toyota Quantum carrying heavily armed men arrived in the area on Tuesday evening. The suspects allegedly moved from shack to shack, opening fire on residents and patrons at local establishments.
The coordinated attack left 12 people dead and approximately 10 others injured.
The injured were transported to nearby hospitals, where they continue to receive medical treatment.
Police have launched an investigation into the killings. No arrests had been made at the time of publication, and the motive for the attack remains unclear.
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- A mass shooting in the Jumpers informal settlement, Cleveland, east of Johannesburg, left 12 dead and around 10 injured, causing widespread fear and grief among residents.
- Survivors and community members, like Nkosinathi Mthethwa, mourn the loss of loved ones and express trauma, financial hardship, and ongoing fear of further violence.
- The area is plagued by criminal activities, especially illegal mining, which residents say contributes to lawlessness and violence, though many locals are uninvolved and confused about the attack's target.
- The attackers, heavily armed, arrived in a Toyota Quantum and carried out a coordinated shooting spree across the settlement, with police currently pursuing a manhunt but no arrests made yet.
- Authorities are investigating the incident amid community trauma, with specialized police units deployed to support the probe; the motive behind the attack remains unclear.
Fear, grief and uncertainty continue to hang at the Jumpers informal settlement in
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"When I arrived, I found my uncle lying on the ground among the other victims. It is a sight that has not left my mind. I have not slept since then, and my three-year-old child is still trembling with fear."
He described his uncle as a peaceful man who avoided conflict. He said the family was struggling to understand why he became a victim of the violence.
"Illegal miners do as they please here. People are killed, women are raped and residents are abused, but those responsible are rarely held accountable," he added.
"We do not know where the money will come from. Our family is not well off, and we are struggling to figure out how we will bury him," he said.
Community leader Zanele
"When this happened I had just said my evening prayers, even cats went silent. It was that traumatic and disturbing. We have lost many people we knew. We do not even know if we will be able to sleep tonight (Wednesday) because we are afraid these people might come back," she said.
Police have launched an investigation into the killings. No arrests had been made at the time of publication, and the motive for the attack remains unclear.
Read More:
Manhunt launched after 12 people killed, scores injured in Joburg informal settlement shooting
Top cop unleashes specialised police units to support
Suspected zama-zama turf war behind
