Africa-Press – South-Africa. Eight suspected zama zamas have suffocated to death underground in Limpopo after heavy rains washed soil into an illegal mine’s exit, trapping them inside.
The incident happened in Driekop outside Burgersfort, in Limpopo, on Friday.
The men are believed to have been digging for chrome near ga-Maroga village at the time, said police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo.
However, heavy rains caused soil to block their entry and exit point, and they appeared to have suffocated to death.
Police were called to the scene on Saturday after members of the community had dug a hole and started removing the bodies of the men.
One of the men was South African, three Mozambican and four Zimbabwean, said Mojapelo.
“The post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death,” he said.
He added:
“A case of illegal mining will also be registered against all of them.”
Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe warned community members to desist from engaging in illegal mining activities.
“We have established a team to deal with illegal mining activities around the province, especially in the areas along the R37 road in Sekhukhune District, and many illegal miners have been arrested and mining equipment confiscated,” she said.
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