This comes after post-mortems conducted on all the bodies revealed that some died of starvation and others, lung infections.

In August last year police descended on the mine through operation Val' Umgodi, cutting off the illegal miners' food and water supply. Officers also arrested those who surfaced from underground. Since the inception of the operation in December 2023 more than 18 000 suspects have been arrested.

Provincial police Spokesperson is Sabata Mokgwabone ,”Nine brought to the surface through a pulley system rope by community volunteers between December 3, 2024 and January 9,2025.

Seventy eight brought to the surface between  January 13 and 15 2025 during the mine rescue operation.

Five suspected illegal miners who died while admitted to hospitals between January 20 and february 12, 2025. of this number, four resurfaced at Buffelsfontein shaft no. 11 and one at Margaret shaft.”

--ChannelAfrica--