Twelve deaths at Jumpers informal settlement ‘may be linked to illegal mining’: police

The fatal shooting that claimed 12 lives at Jumpers informal settlement in the east of Johannesburg could be linked to illegal mining, says Gauteng police commissioner Lt-Gen Tommy Mthombeni.

It is understood that a group of heavily armed suspects exited a minibus parked at a petrol station opposite the settlement in the early hours of Wednesday before walking to the settlement and opening fire.

Mthombeni said it is too early to determine what was behind the attack as investigators are still collecting evidence and taking statements.

“This shooting could be linked to illegal mining activities or people living in the area but it is too early to confirm any link to illegal mining,” he said.

The possibility could not be ruled out, he said because, “from what I observed, perhaps two or three of the victims were found in what appeared to be an area used for processing materials related to illegal mining”.

It is estimated there are no fewer than 10 crime scenes spread across the settlement. You can see that the people involved really knew the terrain. You find two people in one place and others in different locations across the settlement

—  Lt-Gen Tommy Mthombeni, Gauteng police commissioner

Mthombeni said about 10 people had been injured and taken to hospital, adding that the number could rise.

The police have recovered a hard drive they hope will help in the investigation into the mass shooting.

Mthombeni said investigators recovered the hard drive from another section of the settlement, where forensic pathology teams were processing the scene and retrieving a body.

“We’re still collecting information, but on the other side of the settlement, we managed to recover a hard drive, which the team is investigating.”

There are numerous crime scenes across the settlement, with at least 10 identified so far, he added.

“It is estimated there are no fewer than 10 crime scenes spread across the settlement. You can see that the people involved really knew the terrain. You find two people in one place and others in different locations across the settlement.”

Nine of the dead are male and three female.

Sowetan