The body of a third illegal miner was found in the Sand River near Welkom on Monday.
|||Welkom, Free State -
The body of a third illegal miner was found in the Sand River near Welkom on Monday, Free State police said.
The man, identified as 24-year-old Khethang Makhetha, had multiple injuries and a gunshot wound to the head, Warrant Officer Malebo Khosana said.
Police had been searching the river after discovering the body of a man on Thursday.
Locals alerted police after seeing four men being taken to the river, apparently by a rival mining gang. Several gun shots were heard.
The rival groups were reportedly fighting over gold dust taken from the mines in the area, Khosana said.
“The four men were attacked while processing the gold dust.”
He said the second body, that of Moshati Mahao, 30, was found on Saturday. It had multiple stab wounds to the head.
The search for the fourth man was continuing.
No arrests have been made. - Sapa