The bodies of four suspected illegal miners were discovered during a police raid by a multi-disciplinary team. 

Police spokesperson, Sabata Mokgwabone, says "during the operation on Friday, which was conducted at Shaft no. 5 at Orkney, four decomposed bodies were brought up by the illegal miners". This, after more than 70 foreign nationals from the neighbouring countries of Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe were arrested by police for trespassing, illegal mining and the contravention of the Immigration Act. 

In June 2021, OFM News reported that 20 suspected illegal miners' bodies were found in Orkney.

Also read: Investigation launched after 20 bodies were discovered outside Klerksdorp

Mokgwabone adds that the operation follows a request to the mine management by illegal miners to be assisted to get out of the mine shaft as they were starving.

During the raid by a multi-disciplinary team - comprising of the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Illicit Mining Team, Orkney Visible Policing, the Detectives, as well as the Mining Rescue Team - 77 illegal miners were ultimately rescued from underground and apprehended between Thursday 14 and Monday 18 April 2022.

Of the 77 arrested illegal miners who were all medically examined, 60 are from Lesotho, 13 from Mozambique and four are Zimbabwean nationals.

Mokgwabone adds that the formal identification process of the four bodies is underway.

OFM News