Six suspected illegal miners were found shot dead on a mountain in Mashobote, within the Ngodwana policing area, on Saturday, August 29.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo said a community member alerted authorities at around 11:00 after spotting the bodies.

Members of the SAPS Illicit Mining Team were immediately dispatched to the scene, where they confirmed all six victims had died from gunshot wounds.

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Rival gang violence suspected

According to Masondo, while the exact circumstances surrounding the shootings remain unclear, preliminary investigations suggest the killings may be linked to ongoing feuds between rival illegal mining operations in the region.

Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Apaphia Modise confirmed that a dedicated team of detectives has been assigned to the case.