The family of 25-year-old Donald Magongo are mourning his death after he had fallen more than 15 metres down an illegal mineshaft in Msholozi Section D outside White River.
According to members of the community, Magongo, of the Kingdom of eSwatini, was part of a group of seven young men who had been digging up the earth for three weeks prior to this incident on June 17.
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According to witnesses, these men were enticed to find Paul Kruger’s legendary millions beneath the earth.
On the day of the incident, Magongo allegedly fell into the hole at about 16:00.
Brig Leonard Hlathi, the provincial police spokesperson, said officers of the White River Police Station went to Rob Ferreira Hospital on June 18.
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“The police were informed that the deceased had fallen into a drain he had been digging in Msholozi, and had sustained head injuries and broken legs,” he said. The police opened an inquest docket and investigated an illegal mine operation in the area.
“The docket had been taken to court for a decision from the Director of Public Prosecutions,” Hlathi said.