Suspected illegal miners opened fire on police in Cleveland, Johannesburg, on 9 July, a month after a mass shooting that killed 13 people at the same settlement.
Officers from the Johannesburg Public Order Policing Unit were patrolling the Jumpers informal settlement when they came under fire. They returned fire, and no officers were injured. Two men were later taken to hospital with gunshot wounds, and one was declared dead on arrival.
The South African Police Service confirmed that cases of murder and attempted murder were registered at Edenvale Police Station and will be transferred to SAPS Cleveland. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate has been notified.
A local factory owner described the shooting as similar in intensity to the June incident, with stray bullets striking factories and vehicles. Ward councillor Neuren Pietersen said residents viewed it as a revenge attack between rival groups involved in illegal mining. Richard Francis, chairman of the Cleveland Community Policing Forum, said police had received complaints about property damage from stray bullets.
Three Basotho nationals arrested in connection with the 9 June shooting have denied involvement. Their bail hearing is scheduled for 17 July.
