At least 31 people are believed to have died last month in an abandoned gold mine in Welkom, South Africa. It is thought that the miners had come from neighbouring Lesotho. The incident was reported to the South African High Commission in Maseru on June 10, but the cause of the deaths remains unknown. The mine was previously owned by Harmony Gold Mining Company, and it stopped operations in the 1990s.

Since then, thousands of unregistered miners, known as 'zama zamas', have operated in the area. They scavenge for gold in hazardous conditions, and it is believed that some of these miners were involved in the tragedy. Ernest Mulibana, a spokesman for the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, said that the high levels of methane in the ventilation shaft have made it too dangerous for anyone to investigate. However, a joint effort is underway to ensure that the suspected deceased miners are brought to the surface.

The incident highlights the precarious and often dangerous nature of illegal mining operations in South Africa. It is hoped that this tragedy will be a wake-up call that encourages better regulation and improved safety measures for all miners.