A total of 118 illegal miners have been extracted from abandoned shaft 11 in Stilfontein, North West, as of 16:00 on Tuesday afternoon.
Police said the recent success has been made possible by state-of-the-art equipment, including a cage system for evacuation.
The 45 tonne Mobile Rescue Winder crane can reach a depth of 3 000 meters underground.
On day one, a total of 35 illegal miners were extracted, and nine were certified as deceased.
A total of 83 illegal miners were extracted on day two, 56 alive, 27 have been certified dead.
All 82 that have been arrested are facing illegal mining, trespassing and contravention of the immigration act charges,” said police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe.
In addition, Mathe said two illegal miners who were found in possession of gold have also been charged with being in the illegal possession of gold bearing material.
Police said the operation will continue up until 22:00 on Tuesday evening and is expected to take 16 days for the operation to be completed.
Meanwhile, Mineral Resources and Energy Minister, Gwede Mantashe, has emphasised that the criminal aspect of illegal mining is the responsibility of police, however he says the collaborative efforts are vital to addressing the crisis.
The Minister was addressing the media in Stilfontein, following his oversight visit to the area, accompanied by his counterpart in the Police ministry, Senzo Mchunu.
“This is a crime scene, but the technical site of mining is DMRE.
So, I don’t need to be pushed by somebody to do that.
Once a decision is taken to start the rescue operation, I must interact with the Mine Rescue Services, start talking to the Mineral Council, then that is my side. I don’t need to be pushed,” Mantashe emphasised.
The minister has been criticised in the past, for refusing to visit the shaft, arguing that it is a crime scene, and crime must be treated as such.
He called for the fight against illegal mining to be intensified as it threatens the country’s economy.
“It’s a crime against the economy, is an attack against the economy.
In 2024 illicit precious metal trade was estimated at R60 billion, that amount is not of value to the economy, is a leakage to the economy,” stressed Mantashe.
