Illegal mining | Stilfontein rescue operation brings up miners, bodies

STILFONTEIN - Rescue operations have started at the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine shaft in Stilfontein.  

A cage has been set up with volunteers going underground to try and return with all those still left underground, both alive and dead.

This process is expected to take at least 16 days to extract all the zama zamas still underground.

WATCH: Illegal mining | Rescue operations continue in Stilfontein
 

A total of 26 zama zamas were arrested after being brought to the surface, with nine bodies also brought up on Monday.

They have yet to be identified at the local government mortuary.

• eNCA's Bafedile Moerane is monitoring the situation.