The illegal mining thread

MORE BENONI MINERS SURFACE

Three more illegal miners surfaced on Tuesday from an abandoned mine in Benoni, on the East Rand, Ekurhuleni emergency services said.

"They resurfaced this morning and were arrested for illegal mining," spokesman David Tshabalala said.

"In total, 25 have come out so far."

Tshabalala could not say how many more were still underground.

The miners were found on Sunday when Ekurhuleni metro police on patrol heard screaming from the abandoned mine. Paramedics initially said there were 200 illegal miners trapped in the mine.

Rescue workers abandoned the mission that same night after the remaining men refused to be brought to the surface for fear of being arrested. Food and water was sent down to them.

Eleven of those rescued appeared in the Benoni Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.


Source : Sapa /mar/jlb/hdw/jk/th
Date : 18 Feb 2014 15:43
 
Watch continues for illegal miners

The abandoned Gold One mine shaft in Benoni on the East Rand was being monitored to see whether there were more illegal miners, said Ekurhuleni mayoral spokesman Zweli Dlamini said on Wednesday.

Dlamini said that he was not sure how many miners were still trapped inside the mine shaft but they were "monitoring the situation".

Twenty-two of the 25 people rescued from the abandoned mine would appear in the court on Wednesday, the Hawks said.

Captain Paul Ramaloko said 11 miners, who were meant to appear in the Benoni Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, would now appear with 11 others on Wednesday, facing charges of illegal mining.

He could not say why the court appearance on Tuesday was postponed.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Nathi Mncube said earlier on Tuesday that the accused were not brought to court, but also did not provide a reason.

The miners were found on Sunday when Ekurhuleni metro police on patrol heard screaming from the abandoned mine. A rival group had thrown boulders down the open mine shaft, trapping them underground, ER24 spokesman Werner Vermaak said.

Paramedics initially said there were 200 illegal miners trapped in the mine.

Rescue workers abandoned the mission that same night after the remaining men refused to be brought to the surface for fear of being arrested. Food and water was sent down to them.

The bodies of two illegal miners were also found in a separate mine shaft in Benoni last week, police said on Tuesday.

Dlamini said the incident was separate from that of the 25 illegal miners who were rescued from the shaft being monitored in Benoni.

"It is two or three kilometres away from the other incident," he said at the time.

One of the bodies was retrieved on Tuesday, while the other remained underground.

Dlamini said the police and the department of mineral resources knew about the two deaths since late last week.

He said that emergency rescue services were not tasked with retrieving these bodies, as operations of this nature were the competence of the companies operating the mines under the supervision of the department.


Source : Sapa /kd/tk/jje
Date : 19 Feb 2014 08:46
 
Mila said:
They loot the whole place, at some mines they are in cahoots with the security and go down into the mines with the normal miners. Not even just the abandoned mines.

Sorry I have no sympathy.
Click to expand...

And the problem is spread worldwide in Canada, Australia, South Africa, South America. Maybe, all those countries need to get together and fight the international syndicates behind illegal mining.
 
BODIES OF FIVE ILLEGAL MINERS FOUND

The bodies of five illegal miners were found near a shaft in Roodepoort on Tuesday, Johannesburg emergency management services said.

"The five illegal miners were confirmed dead on scene by our paramedics," spokesman Robert Mulaudzi said.

The cause of death was unknown, Mulaudzi said.

The bodies of the miners were brought to surface by other illegal miners.

"We are concerned about the number of illegal mining incidence in the area... we want to inform them to stop this dangerous activity because they put their lives in danger," Mulaudzi said.

A body of another illegal miner was recovered on Sunday in Roodepoort.

Twenty-five people were rescued last week from an abandoned mine in Benoni, on the East Rand.

Police said the bodies of two illegal miners were also found in a separate mine shaft in Benoni last week.


Source : Sapa /ns/ks
Date : 25 Feb 2014 23:09
 
Mila said:
Live by the sword die by the sword i suppose.
Click to expand...

What does that have to do with illegal mining?

"Live by the sword, die by the sword" is a saying derived from a biblical parable to the effect that if you use violence, or other harsh means, against other people, you can expect to have those same means used against you
Click to expand...
 
Police looking for illegal miners' killers

Gauteng police were on Monday looking for those responsible for the killing of eight illegal miners at a gold mine in Benoni, a spokesman said.

"By yesterday [Sunday] we had found eight bodies. The last two bodies were found underground," Lt-Col Lungelo Dlamini said.

"At this stage the motive for the killing is unknown. All eight were shot in the upper body. The bodies have not yet been identified."

Dlamini said there were allegations that the men were foreign nationals.

On Saturday, security guards found several cartridges near the bodies at 9am.

Police were investigating a murder case. No arrests had yet been made.


Source : Sapa /dm/jk
Date : 23 Jun 2014 07:36
 
POLICE PROBING ILLEGAL MINERS' DEATHS

Gauteng police are still investigating the killing of eight illegal miners at a gold mine in Benoni at the weekend, a spokesman said.

Lt-Col Lungelo Dlamini could not say whether more bodies were thought to still be underground.

Eight bodies were found over the weekend, two of them underground.

According to a report in The Star murders took place at the Modder East mine, between the N12 and New Modder Road.

All eight were shot in the upper body. The motive for the killing was unknown and the bodies had not been identified.

On Monday, Dlamini said there were allegations that the men were foreigners.

On Saturday morning security guards found several cartridges near the bodies.

No arrests had been made.


Source : Sapa /mr/jk/tk/lp/th
Date : 24 Jun 2014 11:45
 
TWO MORE BODIES FOUND AT BENONI MINE

The bodies of two more illegal miners have been found at a disused mine in Benoni, Gauteng police said on Wednesday.

"The bodies are now 10. One body was recovered on Monday night, and the other was found yesterday [Tuesday]," Lt-Col Lungelo Dlamini said.

"The mine is old and disused, and not in operation. It does not have a name. We don't know what it was called before."

According to a report in The Star on Tuesday the bodies were found at the Modder East mine, between the N12 and New Modder Road.

At the weekend, eight other bodies were found, all of them with gunshot wounds. Security guards found several cartridges near the bodies on Saturday.

Dlamini said police were following some leads on the case, and the motive was still unknown.


Source : Sapa /mar/jk/jje
Date : 25 Jun 2014 08:55
 
Metro cops ambushed by illegal miners

Two metro police officers were ambushed by a group of five illegal miners near the Benoni Gold Mine, the Ekurhuleni metro police said on Friday.

The officers were patrolling the Benoni area on Thursday evening when the incident took place, said Chief Supterintendent Wilfred Kgasago.

"The suspects jumped out of the bushes and started shooting at the officers," he said.

"Police returned fire and called for backup."

When SA Police Service officers' arrived, the gunmen ran off.

The police did not follow them into the bushes as it was "a difficult terrain" and would be problematic in the dark.

No injuries or damage to property was reported.

A case of attempted murder was opened.


Source : Sapa /mar/fg/jje
Date : 16 Jan 2015 08:52
 
Five found dead in Benoni

http://blog.er24.co.za/five-found-dead-in-benoni/

ER24 paramedics were contacted earlier today to attend to a scene in Benoni where people had been shot and have been on standby since.

On arrival ER24 paramedics and other services found people believed to be illegal miners with gunshot wounds. Four people were assessed and declared dead. Three people who were in a critical condition were treated and transported to a local hospital.

While still on scene providing medical support, paramedics heard gunshots. A few moments later they were informed of another shooting that had ensued nearby.

Members of the police escorted them to the site. Another person was found and declared dead on scene.
 
FOUR SHOT DEAD AT BENONI MINE SHAFT

Four suspected illegal miners were found shot dead at an old mine shaft in Benoni, on the East Rand, Gauteng police said on Thursday.

"We just got to the scene and discovered four bodies. Three others were injured and are under police guard in hospital," said spokesman Captain Tsekiso Mofokeng.

The incident was suspected to have happened overnight, he said.

"We suspect that one of the illegal miners called the police and alerted them about the incident. An investigation has been launched."


Source : Sapa /gm/fg
Date : 05 Feb 2015 10:20
 
/Scratches Illegal Mining off of todo list.
 
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