Nokukhanya Mntambo

At the beginning of the week, the third and final phase of a mission to clamp down on illegal mining kicked off with experts sending a cage to force zama zamas out.

Undocumented Zimbabwean nationals are among more than 80 zama zamas who died at the Buffelsfontein gold mine when police intensified an operation to clamp down on illegal mining in the area.

The bodies of 78 zama zamas were recovered from the Buffelsfontein gold mine this week during a government-led operation to shut down an elaborate illicit mining network in the area.

A special operation to retrieve illegal miners at a disused mine was called off on Thursday after it was confirmed that there were no more people left underground.

Some of the zama zamas are believed to have starved to death after police cut off food and water supply during an operation to clamp down on illegal mining in the area.

The large group was arrested during a special operation to retrieve scores of zama zamas at the Buffelsfontein gold mine.

The move to cut off food and water supply in a bid to force the zama zamas angered some activists, who labelled the operation a humanitarian crisis.

They are among those arrested this week during a special government-led operation to shut down the underground operation at Bufflesfontein Gold Mine.

Earlier this week, a government-led operation to shut down an illicit mining network in Stilfontein was called off after it was confirmed that there were no more signs of life underground.

The bodies of 78 Zama Zama's were pulled from the Buffelsfontein gold mine this week during a government-led operation to shut down an elaborate illicit mining network.