The police in South Africa said 12 people were killed during a mass shooting on Tuesday at an informal settlement, near an abandoned gold mine, at the east of the Johannesburg city centre.

The police, in a statement on Wednesday, stated that 10 attackers were dropped off at the location close to where illegal miners live and work before the shooting started.

The police spokesperson, Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said, “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.”

Mrs Nevhuhulwi stated that investigations showed 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 person died in hospital.”

Also, provincial commissioner, Tommy Mthombeni, told journalists that no arrest had been made and the motive for the attack had yet been known.

Mr Mthombeni said, “At this stage, we could not determine what is the motive. As you know, this area is adjacent to the illegal mining area. We are having those suspicions. One can term this incident to be insane, to be heartless and to an extent, it is barbaric.”

He also added that the police arrested three people during a raid on the area three weeks ago, and confiscated AK-47 rifles, guns and other weapons.