Wednesday saw Grootvlei Mine swarming with personnel from various agencies including the local and provincial police and the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department.
Mofokeng confirms that SAPS reinforcements were called in to assist the local police with their investigation.
On Monday two illegal miners were shot dead in Gugulethu informal settlement.
This was followed by the discovery of four bodies, each with one bullet wound to the chest, at Grootvlei Mine Shaft Four on Tuesday morning.
By Tuesday night the body count had risen to 12 with a further six miners being shot during the night.
Their bodies, and a further three, were found this morning (September 9) bringing the total to 15 dead in under 72 hours.
One of the bodies that was found, on Tuesday, was that of Seiso Masopha (23) who was shot in front of his three-year-old daughter at Jacobs Farm.
Talking to the Addie, Seiso’s wife, Puleng (21) said: “I was across the road at my mother’s house at 5.30pm when the shooting happened.
“I had sent my daughter home to her father.
“Within minutes I heard gun shots and my husband called out for help.”
She adds that the little girl informed her “daddy is no more” adding “daddy is dead.”
According to Mofokeng, the police are not sure if the deaths are the result of feuds between different illegal mining groups.
Police are, however, investigating this possibility.
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