CRIME: Police launch manhunt after Joburg shooting leaves three dead, two injured

Police have initiated a manhunt after a shooting in Newclare, Johannesburg on Saturday evening, August 15, that resulted in three deaths and two injuries, at least one of which was critical. Upon receiving a complaint of a shooting, SAPS officers arrived at the scene in Newclare and found three victims, aged 18 to 20, deceased at the location.

Two additional victims, aged 18 and 23, sustained gunshot wounds and were transported to the hospital for further treatment. Unverified social media footage allegedly captured the incident from a nearby balcony, showing multiple gunshots and a man fleeing the scene. Further investigation revealed the presence of numerous SAPS vehicles arriving at the scene later that evening, as well as photographs of the victims, whose identities are known to locals.

However, police have not yet confirmed their identities or published photos. The incident follows a series of escalating violence in Johannesburg's western suburbs of Westbury, Newclare, and Riverlea, with the South African National Defence Force deploying over 2,200 personnel to assist police operations against gang violence, crime, and illegal mining since President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address in February.