A group of 31 suspected illegal miners died underground at an old mine shaft in Virginia, Free State, last month. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) said in a statement that they were notified of the deaths by the Lesotho government. 



ACCIDENT OCCURRED LAST MONTH

According to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, they received a report from the Lesotho Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations about the death of the 31 zama zamas who are believed to be Basotho nationals. It's believed the illegal miners lost their lives in a ventilation shaft 5 which was last operational in the 1990s.

TOO RISKY TO DISPATCH A SEARCH TEAM 

The department said in a statement that it was too risky to dispatch a rescue team as methane levels at the shaft are too high. "Although the information on this tragic situation comes sporadically, we are doing our best to act on the information. Working in collaboration with the previous owners of the mine, Harmony, the department's inspectors have assessed the situation and determined methane levels in the mine ventilation shaft 5 are very high. It is too risky to dispatch a search team to the shaft,' the department said, adding that they are considering various options to speedily deal with the situation. Three bodies are reported to have been retrieved and brought to the surface by other illegal miners soon after the accident last month. 

This is a developing story.