The discovery of 20 bodies in the North West has left police puzzled.

The bodies were found on Tuesday, 15 June, and Wednesday, 16 June.

According to SAPS, the first five bodies, which were decomposed, were found on Tuesday at 7pm outside an unused, old mine ventilation shaft. On Wednesday, 14 more decomposed bodies were found.

The police received information that yet another body was found where the first five were. This brought the total number of bodies to 20.

The SAPS stated that the deceased men were allegedly illegal miners that were working in shafts in Stilfontein and Orkney.

Body burns and post-mortems, The deceased’s remains, showed severe burns. The SAPS stated that post-mortems will be conducted to determine the cause of death. The bodies were discovered wrapped in plastic bags.

Alleged viral video The SAPS alleged that the incident may be linked to a viral video on social media in which a man was seen begging for help while suffering from smoke inhalation in Shaft Number 6.

Moroka Wa Malatsi said:

“We don’t know what to say or who to blame, it is either poverty or recklessness and even law-breaking on the side of victims, mine management, state or police.

But lives were lost as an actual fact trying to make money to live.

Those mine owners could have collectively colluded to eradicate the Zama-Zamas.

These killings clearly are motivated by hate and abuse of power.

The Zama-Zamas understood they were in the wrong, hence could not fight back and instead pleaded for their freedom.