Police in Gauteng have arrested three Lesotho nationals in connection with the mass shooting at the Jumpers informal settlement that left 13 people dead and 14 others injured earlier this month.
The arrests mark a significant development in one of the province’s deadliest recent attacks and come after an intensive investigation involving multiple law enforcement and security agencies.
Authorities believe the massacre may be linked to ongoing conflicts within illegal mining networks operating in parts of Gauteng, where violent disputes over territory and control have become increasingly common.
The suspects were taken into custody on 23 June following a coordinated intelligence-led operation.
Multi-Agency Investigation Leads To Arrests
According to police, a specialised task team made up of members from Gauteng’s Murder and Robbery Unit, Tracking Team, Tactical Response Team, Local Criminal Record Centre, National Intervention Unit and the South African National Defence Force worked together to identify and locate individuals allegedly connected to the attack.
Investigators traced the suspects to the KwaMaiMai informal settlement, where all three were arrested.
Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said officers recovered more than 100 rounds of 9mm ammunition from the residence of one of the suspects during the operation.
The three men, aged 26, 32 and 36, are expected to appear before the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on 25 June on charges including murder and attempted murder.
The arrests follow the deadly shooting that unfolded on the night of 9 June when at least 10 heavily armed gunmen allegedly entered the Jumpers informal settlement through separate access points after arriving in a Toyota Quantum minibus.
Witnesses reported hearing sustained gunfire as attackers moved through the settlement, leaving multiple victims dead and wounded.
Illegal Mining Violence Remains Under Scrutiny
While investigations remain ongoing, police continue to explore links between the massacre and illegal mining operations, which have been associated with numerous violent incidents across Gauteng in recent years.
Competition between rival groups involved in illicit mining activities has frequently led to deadly confrontations, prompting authorities to increase enforcement efforts in affected areas.
Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni praised the investigators responsible for the breakthrough, describing their work as meticulous and relentless.
He said officers had dedicated weeks to gathering intelligence and tracking down those allegedly responsible for the killings.
Mthombeni expressed hope that the arrests would provide some comfort to the families affected by the tragedy while reaffirming the commitment of law enforcement agencies to pursue all remaining suspects.
Police have indicated that the investigation is far from complete and that additional arrests may follow as detectives continue to identify other individuals believed to have participated in the attack.
In a separate development, Eastern Cape police recently arrested four men accused of carrying out another deadly shooting that claimed four lives and left two women injured in KwaDwesi earlier this month.
The incidents underscore the ongoing challenges facing law enforcement agencies as they confront organised violent crime across different parts of South Africa.
Source: South African Police Service (SAPS)