Three Lesotho nationals have been charged with murder and attempted murder in connection with a deadly mass shooting at an informal settlement east of Johannesburg that left 13 people dead and 14 others injured, South African authorities said on Thursday.
The suspects, aged between 26 and 34, appeared before the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court following their arrest earlier this week. Prosecutors say they are among those believed to have participated in the late-night attack, which has been linked to violent turf battles among illegal mining groups operating around abandoned mine shafts in the area.
According to South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the men were arrested after some of the survivors identified them to police during the investigation.
Police said the attackers, estimated to number about 10, were dropped off at both entrances of the settlement before moving through the area and opening fire on residents. Authorities believe the gunmen were later picked up by a waiting vehicle after the assault.
The killings have intensified concerns over violence tied to South Africa’s illegal mining networks, where armed gangs compete for control of access to gold-bearing shafts and other mineral-rich sites.
The NPA said it remains committed to ensuring that all those behind the attack are brought to justice. The case was postponed to 2 July for address verification and to allow for the scheduling of a bail hearing. All three accused remain in custody.
South Africa has long grappled with the rise of illegal mining, with thousands of unregistered miners, commonly known as “zama zamas,” operating in abandoned or disused mines across the country. Many come from neighbouring countries, including Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, driven by poverty and unemployment.
The underground trade has increasingly been associated with organised crime, including extortion, assassinations, armed clashes and other violent activities, particularly in mining belts around Gauteng province.
Authorities have in recent months stepped up operations targeting illegal mining syndicates, but the latest shooting underscores the persistent security threat posed by the sector and the deadly rivalries surrounding it.
