12 die in South Africa late-night shooting

Johannesburg: A group of armed attackers drove into a poor neighbourhood in South Africa’s biggest city, got out of a minivan and opened fire at residents in a late-night attack in Johannesburg that killed 12 people and wounded at least nine, police said.

The attack unfolded late on Tuesday night in an informal settlement in Cleveland suburb, police said, adding, there were at least 10 suspects.

Johannesburg has long been the scene of organised crime gangs vying for control of illegal mining or other activities, though police said the motive of the latest shooting was still under probe.

Police said the shooters were dropped off at the settlement in a minibus “and moved through the area, opening fire on residents and community members at multiple locations before fleeing the scene in the same vehicle.” The victims were nine men and three women, according to police. Eleven died at the scene and another victim died in the hospital. Police launched a search but no arrests were made. —AP