Stilfontein's 9th miner's body was uncovered, and over 1,300 arrests have been made.

Rescue teams continue efforts to bring illegal miners to the surface from abandoned mines in Stilfontein, North West. On Friday, the body of another unidentified zama zama was recovered, bringing the death toll to nine since last month.

Authorities have intensified Operation Vala Umgodi in the region, which has led to the arrest of over 1,300 individuals involved in illegal mining activities.

A special task team was set up three weeks ago to assist with the rescue and recovery operations. However, safety concerns have delayed the implementation of phase three of the operation.

In the meantime, community members have taken it upon themselves to assist by delivering food and water to those trapped underground. They have also been helping retrieve bodies of miners who reportedly died from hunger and dehydration.

Pathology officials arrived at shaft 11 on Friday to collect the latest body. While the day’s focus was meant to be on rescuing sick and frail miners, those who surfaced claimed there were still decomposing bodies underground that needed to be recovered first.

Six miners resurfaced overnight from shaft 10 at the old Buffelsfontein gold mine. These individuals, Mozambican nationals aged between 27 and 30, were arrested, joining the hundreds of zama zamas detained since August.