Another 18 bodies were retrieved from the disused Stilfontein mine in North West on Wednesday morning.
A further 22 illegal miners were pulled out of the shaft. TimesLIVE understands parts of the shaft are filling up with water.
The rescue operation went ahead at the mine’s shaft 11 despite light rain on Wednesday. Recovery operations to lift the illegal miners from the shaft more than 2km underground are continuing, using a metal cage.
On Wednesday the cage was lowered twice to retrieve the illegal miners and the 18 bodies.
Mzukisi Jam, a community leader and spokesperson for the SA National Civic Organisation in the North West, said though they were relieved the bodies were being retrieved, the loss of life could have been prevented had the government acted earlier.
“Government was forced to do this. When we first engaged with government, there was no-one dead.”
TimesLIVE
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