WATCH: The complex task of retrieving illegal miners in Stilfontein

JOHANNESBURG - The operation to extract hundreds of illegal miners from an abandoned shaft in Stilfontein is set to run longer than expected as the rescue operation marks a week.

The task team leading the government's plans kicked off last Friday, following months of work done by Operation Vala Umgodi. 

This is part of an intensified drive to shut down an extensive underground network of illegal miners undercutting the economy and accused of being behind a spate of crime in parts of the country. 

Phase one of the operation is done, with the rubble near the shaft cleared and phase two began on Thursday, with more safety checks done. 

It's understood the old rope and pulley system previously used by community volunteers to send food and water down the shaft or to bring illegal miners back up to the surface has been disassembled. 

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A camera will be sent in for further assessments before the extraction begins. 

While it was initially thought it would take a week, North West police spokesperson Sabata Mokgwabone said the timeline is unknown. 

"Remember that there’s quite a number of processes that are going to unfold before we can send the camera then there must be communication to those people. Sending the camera doesn’t necessarily mean we are spying, it will just to access the situation," said Mokgwabone.

The last time aid was sent down to the illegal miners was last week Saturday, including almost 600 parcels of instant porridge and water.