9th body of illegal miner retrieved in Stilfontein

JOHANNESBURG -As rescue operations to bring hundreds of illegal miners back up to the surface continue, the body of an unidentified zama zama has been retrieved from an abandoned mine in Stilfontein. 

This brings the death toll up to 9 since last month. 

More than 1,300 people have been arrested in North West since Operation Vala Umgodi was intensified. 

Friday marks three weeks since a task team was established to bring illegal miners back to the surface. 

However, mining rescue experts have yet to implement phase three of the operation amid safety concerns. 

WATCH: Six more illegal miners resurface in Stilfontein
 
Instead, a group of community members have again taken it upon themselves to move food and water down the shaft, as well as to retrieve warm bodies and to help bring up the remains of those they claim have died of hunger and dehydration. 

Pathology officials have now arrived at shaft 11 to collect the latest body. 

Although Friday's operation was meant to focus on retrieving those thought to be sick and frail, illegal miners that resurfaced overnight claim there are several other decomposing bodies the zama zamas want out first.