Police in Limpopo have launched an investigation after the discovery of a body believed to be that of an illegal miner at Zwartkrans Mine, near Makapan’s Valley in Mokopane.
On Thursday, members of the Operation Vala Umgodi task force were alerted to a body buried in a shallow grave at one of the notorious illegal mining shafts in the area.
Challenging Retrieval Operation
Upon arriving at the scene, authorities found the body concealed under a pile of large rocks, a disturbing indicator of the harsh conditions illegal miners often face.
The operation to retrieve the remains, which involved the South African Police Service (SAPS), Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and personnel from Mogalakwena Mining Company, began the following day. The team used specialized equipment to carefully extract the body from the grave.
Ongoing Investigation into the Death
The retrieval operation, delayed by heavy rainfall, concluded on Sunday, 16 February, at approximately 2:00 PM. The deceased is believed to be a Lesotho national whose body had already started to decompose.
While the exact cause of death remains unclear, police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragedy. Authorities are working to piece together the events leading up to the discovery and hope to shed light on the growing issue of illegal mining in the region.
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