The operation to remove illegal miners from Barberton Gold Mines in Mpumalanga is ongoing. Sheba Gold Mine and Pan African Resources say most illegal miners’ camps have been cleared.

Pan African Resources spokesperson Hethen Hira says they are working to remove the illegal miners.

More than 540 illegal miners have been arrested since Friday last week, and police say more arrests are expected.

Food supply to the illegal miners has been cut to force them to the surface.

“Our security has confirmed that a majority of the camps have been cleared, and no large groups are remaining underground. The original number of 1 000 was an estimate and the 500 were processed approximately. As far as we know, there are no large groups underground at the moment.

We’ve cleared the areas we know about, but there are access points. As you can see, this area is huge, it’s vast. There could be people going back to areas they have left equipment or to get what remains of whatever was left,” Hira elaborates.

SA Mines | Illegal mining, Ghost operations and Repurposing of Mines