The Stilfontein Solidarity Committee earlier released a statement saying some illegal miners who were recently retrieved need immediate healthcare and should not be in police custody.

National police Spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says they are working closely with the Department of Health in North West to ensure that health care is provided to illegal miners in police holding cells.

Mathe says they conduct inspections in the police holding cells on a daily basis and those that require medical attention are referred and admitted to a local hospital, under police guard.

32 illegal miners are currently admitted to hospital.

--SABC--