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Stuff from Johannesburg

Mass Murder Manhunt in Motion

GAUTENG – Police have launched a manhunt for suspects following a mass shooting that claimed the lives of 12 people and left several others injured at Jumpers Informal Settlement in Cleveland on Tuesday evening, 09 June 2026.

It is reported that at approximately 23:10, members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) responded to a complaint of a shooting in progress at the informal settlement. Upon arrival, police found numerous victims who had sustained gunshot wounds. Emergency Medical Services were immediately summoned to the scene to assist the injured.

Preliminary investigations reveal that 12 people died as a result of the attack. Eight adult males and three adult females were declared dead at the scene, while one additional male victim later succumbed to his injuries in hospital. At least nine other victims were transported to various medical facilities for treatment of gunshot wounds.

It is alleged that more than 10 suspects were dropped off by a white Toyota Quantum near a petrol station in Cleveland. The suspects allegedly entered the informal settlement through both entrances and moved through the area, opening fire on residents and community members at multiple locations before fleeing the scene in the same vehicle.

Provincial and district detectives, supported by crime intelligence and forensic experts, have been mobilised to investigate the incident and track down the suspects.

The motive for the attack is currently unknown and forms part of the ongoing investigation. No arrests have been made at this stage.

Anyone with information that may assist with the investigation may  contact the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or submit information anonymously via the MySAPS mobile application.

The Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, has noted the swift response by the Gauteng Provincial Commissioner and operational teams following the mass shooting incident in Cleveland, Johannesburg, which claimed the lives of 12 people.

In strengthening the ongoing investigation, Lieutenant General Dimpane has directed the deployment of additional national specialised capabilities to augment provincial teams. These include members from Forensic Services, Tactical Response Teams and other specialised investigative resources to accelerate efforts aimed at identifying, tracing and apprehending those responsible.

A multidisciplinary task team comprising provincial and national experts will work around the clock to pursue all investigative and intelligence leads, including the tracing of the white Toyota Quantum allegedly linked to the incident.

“We have reinforced provincial efforts with additional national specialised resources to ensure that the investigation is expedited and that those responsible are swiftly brought to justice,” said Lieutenant General Dimpane.

The Acting National Commissioner has conveyed her condolences to the families of the deceased and wished those injured a speedy recovery.

Police investigations remain ongoing, and anyone with information that may assist is urged to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or submit information anonymously via the MySAPS App.

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The Cradle of Humankind and Ancient Roots

While the modern city is only about 140 years old, the ground beneath it holds the secrets of humanity’s earliest ancestors. Located just 50 kilometers northwest of the city center is the Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This area contains a complex system of limestone caves, including the famous Sterkfontein Caves, where nearly 40% of all the world’s human ancestor fossils have been discovered.

Significant finds like “Mrs. Ples” (Australopithecus africanus) and the near-complete skeleton of “Little Foot” have provided scientists with crucial evidence about how early hominids walked upright and transitioned into the Homo genus. More recently, in 2013, the discovery of Homo naledi in the Rising Star cave system stunned the scientific community, suggesting that ancient human relatives may have practiced ritualized burial much earlier than previously thought. This proximity to the “birthplace of humanity” gives Johannesburg a unique cultural depth; while it is a city of skyscrapers and high finance, it is also a place where you can stand on the very ground where our species took its first steps.