Five men have been shot and killed at an open cast mine in Tlhatlaganyane near Sun City in the North West. Their bodies were discovered today.

The area is known for its open cast chrome mining, where several licenses have been issued to individuals for small-scale operations

Police Spokesperson Sabata Mokgwabone says a multi-disciplinary team has been deployed to investigate the murders.

“While the area is known for and has been previously visited by three national parliament portfolio committees on police, home affairs and minerals following complaints of illegal mining including by the local tribal authority.  It cannot at this point in time be speculated or even ruled out that the killings are linked to the rival mining operations. The police will conduct an extensive investigation that will ensure that those responsible are identified and arrested. All clues, leads are going to be investigated including the identity and reasons for the deceased to be on the site before they were shot and killed,” says Mokgwabone.

JUST IN |Police in North West are investigating the shooting deaths of five men at an open-cast mine in Tlhatlaganyane near Sun City. Spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone says a multi-disciplinary team has been deployed to gather evidence and determine the motive. pic.twitter.com/uoqf6seqc0

— SABC News (@SABCNews) August 25, 2025