Pretoria - Government has conveyed condolences to the families of the people who lost their lives during recent incidents of illegal mining.
At least 16 dead illegal miners have been recovered and countless other miners are missing or waiting to be rescue. The miners died when the tunnels they were using collapsed.
Some of the bodies were recovered at a disused diamond mine in the Northern Cape, while others were recovered in the Free State and Gauteng.
Meanwhile, the search for some diggers, who are believed to have been mining illegally at Bontekoe in the Northern Cape, continues.
The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said in a statement that the tragedy illustrated the dangers associated with illegal mining but did not detract from people's fundamental rights to life and dignity.
"Government has made significant progress in ensuring that appropriate measures are taken to eliminate such activities. We will continue to work with law enforcement agencies and social partners as part of a national effort to stamp out illegal mining," it said.
