DailySun
Stilfontein – The somber rescue operations at shaft 11 in Stilfonten, North West, continued on Wednesday with the recovery of an additional 18 bodies from the depths.
Since the operation began on Monday, a total of 78 bodies have been retrieved from over 2 kilometers underground using a specialized cage.
In a recent update on the rescue efforts, police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe remarked: “As of 16:00 on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, 84 living illegal miners have been successfully rescued.”
“All 84 individuals have been arrested. Sadly, 18 have been confirmed deceased.”
Brigadier Mathe shared the following statistics by 4:00 p.m. on the third day of operations:
From Monday to Wednesday:
- 216 illegal miners were rescued
- 78 bodies were retrieved
At least five pathology trucks were observed near the shaft, indicating that more bodies may still be discovered.
Stay tuned for further updates…
