IPID spokesperson, Grace Langa, tells OFM News that the unit’s investigators have been sent to investigate these deaths after a shooting between these miners, security officials, and the police. 

However, Langa says it’s not yet clear as to who shot the miners. She says confusion has now arisen, with some alleging that the deceased were shot dead by security officers and not police officials. On Thursday, OFM News reported that six illegal miners were killed during the shooting, which involved security officials and police, when a group of at least 300 miners attempted to pass food and water to their compatriots underground, at shaft number six in that area.

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Meanwhile, police spokesperson, Sabata Mokgwabone, said 35 illegal miners have been nabbed for attempted murder, causing an explosion, malicious damage to property, and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Mokgwabone said 300 illegal miners attacked and shot at the security officers. Later, when they attempted to provide foodstuffs to their fellow illegal miners who were underground, they also shot at the police.

“The shooting incidents that unfolded at about 18:30 led to the deaths of illegal miners. Four bodies were found in the vicinity of the shaft, one was found approximately 800 meters from the crime scene while the sixth one was found in the bushes near the Kanana Location. Several food parcels and two firearms were found at the crime scene. The arrests and shooting incidents came after a decision by the mine management to clamp down on illegal mining activities by closing the ventilation shaft which the 'zama-zamas' had been using to enter and exit various shafts,” he added.

Mokgwabone further added that following the shortage of food and water, some of the illegal miners voluntarily started to exit the shaft on Saturday 2 October 2021 and Sunday 3 October 2021. More than 500 miners had already exited the shaft.

OFM News