Two illegal miners were found dead and 22 others were arrested at the Eland shaft of Harmony mine in Welkom on Friday, Free State police said.
Spokesperson Captain Stephen Thakeng said police opened two inquest cases for the two miners that were found dead at around 2pm by mine security.
“On our arrival at the mine premises, two illegal miners with name tags on their arms, both were Lesotho nationals [were found dead]. Among the 22 [who were arrested], three were ill and were taken to hospitals under police guard. One of them was under age [16] from Zimbabwe,” Thakeng said.
“The 22 illegal miners including a minor from Zimbabwe are facing charges like trespass, attempted theft of gold bearing material and illegal immigration. Three were admitted in different hospitals in the Goldfields due to suspicion of Methane gas inhalation underground.”
He said all 22 are expected to appear in the Welkom Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The suspects arrested are from Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Rustenburg, Klerksdorp, Soweto, Springs, Pretoria, Bekkersdal, Evaton and Welkom.
“We will continue hitting hard on illegal mining in the Goldfields.”
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