A man’s body was earlier today discovered in a shaft of an illegal mine in Ermelo where zama zamas were recently apprehended.

The discovery comes after one of the zama zamas’ family members reported him missing.

According to information obtained, the man vanished on October 13 – the day of a SAPS operation intended to apprehend illegal miners.

A source claims that when the police arrived, the missing person and other zama zamas retreated deeper into the mine.

The SAPS Mpumalanga Search and Rescue team was at the scene to do an additional search as they expected to find more bodies. However, Ermelo police spokesperson Captain Carla Prinsloo stated only one body was located in the mine shaft.

The body was confirmed to be that of the person who was reported missing, despite earlier reports that suggested otherwise.