Six bodies have been pulled from an abandoned mine in Stilfontein in South Africa. The number of miners still trapped underground is still unknown.

Stilfontein gold mines located approximately 150 kilometres southwest of Johannesburg and have been surrounded by police for the past month, aiming to remove those who are illegally operating there.

Authorities have been restricting food and water supplies to encourage them to evacuate the mine. Many illegal miners known as Zama Zamas come from Mozambique and Lesotho and often face harsh conditions to work and reside in South Africa.

Some locals associate their presence with a rise in criminality, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called them a "menace" to the country's economy and security.