Report claims 'four shot dead' in South Africa mine shaft

Guards at an abandoned mine shaft in South Africa shot and killed at least four illegal miners, reports revealed today.

Police said four bodies had been recovered already and a search was ongoing for others after the incident at the facility owned by relatives of Nelson Mandela and president Jacob Zuma.

A spokesman said officers are investigating reports in The Sowetan newspaper that the four were shot dead Monday by mine guards.

The mine east of Johannesburg is owned by Mr Zuma’s nephew Khulubuse Zuma and Mandela’s grandson Zondwa Mandela.

Their company is embroiled in a pay dispute with mine workers they inherited from several mines purchased from an insolvent company.