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Thirty-one suspected illegal miners, allegedly Basotho nationals, are believed to have died at a ventilation shaft at a mine in Virginia, Welkom, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) said on Thursday.
The department said the Lesotho Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations informed the High Commission of South Africa about the deaths.
The suspected illegal miners apparently died on 18 May 2023 in a mine ventilation shaft that was last operational in the 1990s.
"Although information on this tragic situation comes sporadically, we are doing our utmost best to act on the information, including information regarding three bodies which have been reported to be retrieved and brought to the surface by other illegal miners.
"Working in collaboration with the previous owners of the mine, Harmony, the DMRE inspectors have assessed the situation and determined that methane levels at the mine ventilation Shaft 5 are very high.
"As such, it is currently too risky to dispatch a search team to the shaft. However, we are considering various options to speedily deal with the situation," the department said.
It added that all relevant stakeholders would endeavour to ensure that the suspected deceased illegal miners are brought to the surface.
