Illegal miner buried alive, rescued outside Burgersfort
The miner was buried alive on Thursday, 8 February.
LIMPOPO – Members of the South African Police Service Search and Rescue Team (SAPS SAR) succeeded in retrieving the body of an illegal miner.
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According to police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo says the remains were retrieved on Friday, 9 February, after a failed attempt by locals.
“The deceased, Letty Mahlokwane (53), was killed when a huge rock and rubble collapsed and buried her alive at ga-Maroga village outside Burgersfort. Mahlokwane was mining chrome illegally, together with a group of other people,” he explained.
Police were summoned to the scene, reacted swiftly and began with search and rescue operations.
Mojapelo says police are reiterating the warning for people to desist from engaging in illegal mining.
“Apart from the inevitable police action that is taken against perpetrators, these miners might find themselves in similar situation like the one that took place at ga-Maroga where a life has been lost,” he concluded.
