Twenty-seven Zimbabwean citizens have been arrested for illegal mining at a shaft at Sibanye Gold mine in Westonaria, west of Johannesburg, the Hawks said on Wednesday.
Detectives recovered unwrought precious metal, a substantial amount of cash and other mining equipment on Shaft 4 of the mine on Tuesday, said Captain Paul Ramaloko.
The arrested men face charges of theft and illegal possession of unwrought precious metal.
They will appear in the Westonaria Magistrate's Court on Thursday.