Media liaison officer for the minister of mineral resources, Phuti Mabelebele, told the City Times the department received word of the bodies from suspected illegal miners in the area.
Mabelebele was unable to confirm whether there are indeed bodies underground as none had yet been found by 9.10pm this evening.
The City Times visited the scene at around 5.30pm today and was met by around 10 rescue workers.
The area around the hole was cordoned off shortly before 6pm and floodlights were erected around the area.
Mabelebele said the rescue services will work through the night to establish whether there are bodies underground.
She said a detailed press release would be issued tomorrow morning.
The hole is just outside the premises of the Benoni Gold Mine.