A total of 1,128 Mozambicans have been arrested since August 2024 on charges of illegal mining in South Africa's North West province, according to the South African police.

In the same period, 473 Zimbabweans, 26 South Africans, 197 Basotho, one Congolese and one Malawian were arrested.

They were charged with illegal mining, illegal immigration, possession of auriferous material valued at 46 million rand and illegal possession of explosives, said the acting North West police commissioner, Maj-Gen Patrick Asaneng.

He was speaking on Tuesday as part of a review of the activities to rescue miners at the abandoned/closed Stilfontein mine.

During the rescue operations at the abandoned Stilfontein mine, more than ninety lifeless bodies were found, but only eight were identified and handed over to their families.

The police said they had spent around 33 million rand on operations and rescue at the Stilfontein mine since August last year. Around 23.6 million was spent on logistics costs for the deployment of 944 police officers and 9.8 million on overtime costs.

"There were many occasions when members had to work more than the prescribed hours of service to conduct the operation," he said.