Ekurhuleni Emergency Services and Mines Rescue Services worked for several hours to free the men from an abandoned shaft in the open veld on the corner of Range View and Snake roads.
The miners emerged from the shaft, from a one square metre opening, one at a time in front of hordes of national and international media.
The men were trapped at least six to eight metres underneath two boulders and a concrete slab since Saturday.
The trapped miners initially told emergency services there were 30 people trapped directly underneath a boulder and about 300 more further down the shaft.
Ekurhuleni’s HOD for disaster and emergency management services Moshema Mosia said some of the miners were reluctant to exit the mine.
Mosia was unable to say how many men were still trapped underground or what their condition was, and that it was too dangerous for rescuers to be lowered underground.
The operation was called off just before 6.30pm.
Mthuthuzeli Siboza, MMC for Community Safety, said the matter will be left to the mines security and the police.
Police on scene said the shaft would be guarded by mines security and police and arrests will be made should the remaining men resurface.
Ekuruleni metro police were notified of the men’s presence during a by-law operation and were told by a bystander that the men were closed in the shaft by men who were allegedly robbing the illegal miners.
The miners who surfaced were arrested.
ER24 JHB East spokesperson Glen Orritt said the men were not injured.
