Published: Less than 20 min ago
South African police are investigating the discovery of at least 21 bodies found near a private mine in the town of Krugersdorp. The police suspect that the dead were illegal miners.
Nineteen bodies were found on Wednesday and two more the following morning. The police suspect that the bodies were moved to the place where they were found.
The discovery of the bodies is the latest in a series of tragic events related to illegal mining in the Krugersdorp area, west of Johannesburg. Armed gangs searching for gold in abandoned mines fight each other in violent clashes, and according to the police, pose a danger.
In July, eight women from a film crew were raped and robbed at an abandoned mine in the area, where they were shooting a music video. The incident led to strong protests against illegal mining by local residents. Last week, 14 suspects were removed from the rape investigation, due to a lack of evidence.