Three illegal miners expected in Pongola court
Three surviving miners will appear in the Pongola Magistrate's Court today after being involved in illegal mining activity at the Klipwal Mine in Pongola, in northern KZN.
Search efforts were abandoned on Saturday for at least five men who were trapped in the mine on Friday night.
An unstable section of the mine was deemed too unsafe for rescue operations to continue.
Also read: Search efforts for men trapped in a Pongola mine abandoned
Police spokesperson Thulani Zwane says that the suspects are facing charges of illegal mining, trespassing and illegal immigration.
"[Police] managed to arrest these three suspects and others ran away. We have also heard that they were about five people who were trapped inside the mine after the rock fall.
"Up until now those five have not been found and it is suspected that they died," he said.
(File photo: Getty Images)