Mawela: Illegal mining remains a concern

JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng Police Commissioner Elias Mawela admits illegal mining is a problem in the province.

He's calling on stakeholders and mining houses to help rehabilitate unused mines.

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It follows the discovery of eight bodies of suspected illegal miners at a dumping site in Germiston on Friday.

Their cause of death remains unknown at this stage.

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"Illegal mining remains a problem in Gauteng. We are dealing with over 600 abandoned, derelict mining shafts in this province," Mawela said.

"We call upon all people who are involved, including the mining houses, to assist us in terms of rehabilitating all those mines where they feel they are no longer mining.

"It will assist all of us. But illegal mining will remain a concern."