Photo by: Reuters
JOHANNESBURG – Three more illegal miners surfaced on Tuesday from an abandoned mine in Benoni, on the East Rand, Ekurhuleni emergency services said.
"They resurfaced this morning and were arrested for illegal mining," spokesman David Tshabalala said.
"In total, 25 have come out so far."
Tshabalala could not say how many more were still underground.
The miners were found on Sunday when Ekurhuleni metro police on patrol heard screaming from the abandoned mine. Paramedics initially said there were 200 illegal miners trapped in the mine.
Rescue workers abandoned the mission that same night after the remaining men refused to be brought to the surface for fear of being arrested. Food and water was sent down to them.
Eleven of those rescued appeared in the Benoni Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.