Gauteng police arrested three Lesotho nationals in connection with the Jumpers informal settlement mass shooting. The Jumpers informal settlement arrests happened at KwaMaiMai informal settlement on Monday 23 June 2026. Furthermore, officers found one suspect with more than 100 rounds of 9mm live ammunition at his home. As a result, police have made the first arrests in a case that shocked South Africa after 13 people died and 14 others suffered injuries on 9 June 2026.
Jumpers Informal Settlement Arrests: Who Was Arrested
The three suspects are Lesotho nationals aged 26, 32 and 36. Police caught them at KwaMaiMai informal settlement on Tuesday 23 June 2026 after an intelligence-led operation. Furthermore, officers found one man with more than 100 rounds of 9mm live ammunition at his home. All three face charges of murder and attempted murder. They appear before the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday 25 June 2026.
Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed the arrests. “Through intelligence gathering, the three Lesotho nationals were arrested at KwaMaiMai informal settlement, and one of them was found with more than a hundred 9mm live ammunition at his house,” Nevhuhulwi said. Furthermore, police confirmed the investigation continues. Officers are still hunting additional suspects linked to the attack.
The Team That Cracked the Jumpers Case
A large and coordinated team cracked the case. It included the Gauteng Provincial Murder and Robbery Unit, the Provincial Tracking Team, the Tactical Response Team from Krugersdorp, the Johannesburg Local Criminal Record Centre, the National Intervention Unit and the South African National Defence Force. Furthermore, both the Gauteng Provincial Commissioner and the National Commissioner ordered the immediate deployment of additional resources after the 9 June attack.
Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni praised the team. “This team demonstrated unwavering commitment and exceptional skill in arresting the perpetrators responsible for these heinous murders and attempted murders. They worked day and night since this incident, sacrificing their own comfort and safety. We hope the arrests bring solace to the families of the victims,” Mthombeni said.
What Happened at Jumpers Informal Settlement on 9 June
The attack happened shortly after 11pm on Tuesday 9 June 2026 at Jumpers informal settlement in Cleveland, east of Johannesburg. More than 10 armed suspects arrived in a white minibus. They entered through both settlement entrances and fired at residents across multiple locations before fleeing in the same vehicle. The attack lasted only minutes but left the community devastated.
Eight adult males and three adult females died at the scene. A further person died in hospital. That brought the confirmed death toll to 13. Furthermore, 14 others went to hospital with gunshot wounds. As a result, the Jumpers attack became one of the deadliest mass shootings in Johannesburg’s recent history. Forensic teams spent hours collecting spent bullet casings and other evidence.
The attack showed all the signs of organised crime. Investigators noted the coordinated nature of the assault from the start. The use of a getaway vehicle and the movement of multiple armed men through the settlement pointed to a gang attack. Furthermore, residents had told the eNCA broadcaster that people from Lesotho lived in the settlement. As a result, investigators focused on Lesotho connections from an early stage.
The Broader Context of the Jumpers Informal Settlement Arrests
South Africa recorded more than 23,000 homicides in the last financial year. That equals more than 60 murders per day. Mass shootings linked to gangs fighting over illegal mining operations, drug territories and other criminal enterprises have become a recurring problem in Johannesburg. Furthermore, the government deployed the SANDF to high-risk areas in Gauteng in March 2026 to combat gang-related violence. As a result, the SANDF’s role in the Jumpers investigation reflects the integrated security approach now used in the province.
Anyone with information about additional suspects in the Jumpers mass shooting can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or submit information anonymously through the MySAPS App.
For more information on SAPS operations in Gauteng visit saps.gov.za.
Editors Note The three arrested suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. All charges are unproven and will be tested in court. Additional suspects remain at large. Mzansi Today Live will update this article as further information becomes available.