Rustenburg: At least 14 suspected illegal miners have died in an abandoned mine shaft in South Africa's North West province, with several others believed to be injured, police said Tuesday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the South African Police Service (SAPS) stated that the group had been operating at the disused mine in the Nkaneng informal settlement near the city of Rustenburg, approximately 130 kilometers (80 miles) from Johannesburg. Authorities have not yet provided detailed information regarding the circumstances of the miners' deaths or the exact number of injured or trapped individuals, as investigations are still ongoing.

South Africa is one of the world's largest producers of gold and other precious minerals, yet it faces significant challenges from illegal mining activities. Many unemployed individuals risk entering abandoned mines in search of remaining precious metals, despite the legal prohibitions against such actions. The country has numerous closed mine shafts, and incidents involving miners becoming trapped, killed, or injured are frequently reported.

These abandoned mines have attracted large numbers of illegal miners from within South Africa and other parts of the southern African region, contributing to the ongoing challenge of addressing illegal mining activities.