At least 12 people have been killed and nine injured in a mass shooting near Johannesburg, police in South Africa said on Wednesday.

A manhunt is underway for more than 10 suspects that police believe were dropped off in a white Toyota Quantum late on Tuesday night, before fleeing in the same vehicle after carrying out the attack.

Another nine people were injured in the attack on an informal settlement in Cleveland, the motive for which is still unknown.

Eight men and three women were killed in the attack, police said. Eleven of them died at the scene and the 12th died in the hospital.

One witness said they heard the gunfire ringing out for more than one hour as they hid in the toilet. A community leader was shot dead last month with shootings in the area becoming more common, the witness told South African broadcaster eNCA.

A community leader said the place was “very dangerous”.

Despite being hesitant to speak as she feared for her life, the unnamed woman said it was suspected the feud was linked to illegal mining.

“I don’t want to say anything because tomorrow, you might find it will be me. It’s really painful that people were killed like dogs,” she said.

Informal settlements in South Africa are unplanned residential areas usually made up of shacks or similar structures.

South Africa has one of the world’s highest murder rates, averaging about 60 a day.

“It is alleged that more than 10 suspects were dropped off by a white Toyota Quantum near a petrol station in Cleveland,” the police statement reads.

“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.”

Local officers responded to a “complaint of shooting in progress” at around 11:10pm local time on Tuesday (10:20pm BST).

No arrests have been made at this stage.