newsNews24 reports that four suspected illegal miners died after a fight broke out at a mine in Mpumalanga over the weekend. The miners' bodies, which were dumped in a mine shaft, were retrieved on Wednesday afternoon.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Leonard Hlathi said the fight broke out on Saturday at the Transvaal Gold Mining Estates in Dientjie, near Graskop. He reported further as follows: “According to information, a fight broke out between two groups of illegal miners and four men were killed in the process, their bodies dumped in a mine shaft. Another victim was severely assaulted and taken to hospital for medical treatment. Police were then informed about the killings and through their short probe, they were quick to discover that the man in hospital was actually involved in the whole saga. The man was arrested. He is under police guard in hospital. As soon as he recovers from his injuries, he will make an appearance before court.” Mpumalanga’s acting police commissioner, Major General Thulani Phahla, remarked: "This incident has shown once again the dangers of unlawful and unauthorised mining, which often put the lives of those involved at risk."


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