Twenty-six illegal mineworkers were retrieved from a disused mine shaft in Stilfontein, North West, during the first day of the official rescue operations.
According to Mametlwe Sebei representing Lawyers for Human Rights, two bodies were also brought up from underground.
Meanwhile, the Ministries of Police and Mineral Resources and Energy are expected to visit Stilfontein near Klerksdorp on Tuesday.
This is as the government-led rescue operation, which started on Monday is expected to continue. The purpose of the visit is to monitor the commencement of rescue operations aimed at ensuring that all illegal miners resurface.
The DMRE earlier said that they, in conjunction with the minerals council, will be funding the retrieval operation, expected to cost R12 million.
This is pending the ruling of the Constitutional Court on whether the responsibility lies with the government or the owners of the disused mine, Buffelsfontein Gold.
The rescue effort was initially started by the community in October last year to retrieve illegal miners from underground.
The community managed to retrieve 35 illegal miners and 10 bodies, while a total of 1 570 illegal miners have resurfaced at Margaret Shaft and Shaft 10 in Stilfontein.
