Police Hunt Gang Suspects After Six People Pass in Reiger Park Shooting
Reiger Park, Ekurhuleni — Authorities have launched an intensive manhunt after a mass shooting left six people dead and several others injured in what police describe as a gang-related drive-by attack. The horrific scene unfolded late Saturday night in Reiger Park, a township east of Johannesburg known for its tight-knit community and long struggle against local gang activity.
According to Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, the attack occurred just before midnight, when a group of armed men drove past a gathering outside a residential area and opened fire indiscriminately. The suspects fled the scene immediately afterward, leaving chaos, confusion, and devastation behind.
Emergency services arrived to find six victims lying in the street and several others suffering from gunshot wounds. Paramedics pronounced all six deceased at the scene, while the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent medical treatment.
Though police have not released the victims’ names pending formal identification and family notification, community members say the dead include four men and two women — all residents of Reiger Park and well-known in the area. “They were just standing outside, talking, listening to music,” said one resident, Thabo Molefe, who lives across the street. “Then suddenly, bullets started flying. People were screaming and running for cover. It happened so fast.”
Investigators believe the attack was orchestrated by a group of known gang members, all of whom are currently out on bail for previous violent offenses. According to preliminary intelligence, the shooting may have been linked to ongoing turf wars and retaliation between rival factions involved in drug trafficking and extortion in the Ekurhuleni region.
Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, Gauteng’s police commissioner, condemned the attack and vowed that the perpetrators would be caught. “We know who they are,” Mthombeni said. “These individuals are dangerous criminals who have repeatedly terrorized this community. We will not rest until they are back behind bars.”
Specialized units from the South African Police Service (SAPS), including the Anti-Gang Unit and Crime Intelligence, have been deployed to track the suspects. Roadblocks and stop-and-search operations are underway throughout Ekurhuleni, with officers patrolling Reiger Park in marked and unmarked vehicles.
Forensic teams spent hours combing through the crime scene, collecting more than 30 shell casings, believed to have been fired from high-caliber automatic weapons. Bullet holes were visible on nearby walls, fences, and parked cars, evidence of the sheer intensity of the gunfire.
Residents say gun violence has been escalating in recent months, with several drive-by shootings reported in and around the area. “We’re scared all the time now,” said Nomvula Radebe, a mother of three. “It’s like nobody’s safe — you can’t even stand outside your own home.”
Community leaders have urged authorities to take stronger action against repeat offenders and called for greater police visibility. “Too many lives are being lost to the same people who keep getting bail,” said Pastor Elias Dlamini, who leads a local church. “These families will never be the same, and our whole community is traumatized.”
Government officials have also weighed in, with Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi expressing outrage over the killings. “This level of violence is unacceptable,” he said. “We will work closely with law enforcement to ensure that justice is served swiftly and decisively.”
Meanwhile, relatives of the victims have gathered at the scene, lighting candles and laying flowers in remembrance of their loved ones. Grief counselors have been dispatched to support those affected, including witnesses and surviving family members.
As night falls again over Reiger Park, the sense of loss lingers in the air — a reminder of how quickly life can be stolen by violence. Police say arrests are imminent and have urged anyone with information to come forward.
“This was not random,” said Colonel Nevhuhulwi. “We will find them. And when we do, they will answer for every life lost.”