Death shafts: 'now for kingpins'

'We want those financing these illegal operations.'

- Molefe Seeletsa

RESCUE: 'NO MINERS UNDERGROUND'; OVER 1300 ARRESTS

No illegal miners remain underground at the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine in Stilfontein, North West, authorities said yesterday.

The government-funded rescue mission, led by the Mine Rescue Services (MRS), ended yesterday after community volunteers confirmed no further signs of miners in the disused mine.

The site has three main entry and exit points: Margaret Shaft, Buffelsfontein Shaft 10 and Buffelsfontein Shaft 11.

The rescue effort began on Monday, following a high court ruling that ordered government to extract the illegal miners.

As of yesterday, 78 bodies had been retrieved and 246 zama zamas were rescued. Among the survivors were 128 Mozambicans, 80 Lesotho nationals, 33 Zimbabweans, and five South Africans.

However, a total of 1 907 illegal miners have surfaced since the launch of Operation Vala Umgodi in August last year, according to the South African Police Service.

The operation has also recovered 87 bodies, only two of which have been identified.

Police have arrested 1 125 Zimbabweans, 200 Lesotho nationals, 26 South Africans, one Malawian and one Congolese for illegal mining activities.