This is the unfortunate incident unfolding at the Langlaagte mine, Johannesburg, were 3 bodies of illegal miners were located, thus far.
Zama Zamas are illegal miners -notably made of local and illegal immigrants, who enter disused underground mining to search, dig and sell illegal gold on the black market, which cost the industry over R100m.
And the controversial minister of minerals Msebenzi Zwane says this has hampered the economic growth as zama zama’s keep mushrooming all over the country.
“They trade illegally with some international buyers, therefore this means we must redouble our efforts in curtailing this pattern,” he said.
On Tuesday, Police spokesperson Kay Makhubele said: “They led a group of rescue teams to the spot in the mine they seemed to know well.
“The two bodies were brought up. We don’t think those were the last of the trapped miners because family members on the scene insist that there are more people trapped in there.”
Several miners have emerged on their own or been rescued since the recovery operations started on Sunday but they were later arrested.
Meanwhile, affected families have been urged to join the rescue team established by the zama zamas.
The Gatvol residents of Riverlea are putting the blame squarely on Government, for not taking action sooner following their concerns on the matter.
