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North West police are investigating after four members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) were found dead in a dormant mining shaft in Orkney on Saturday morning.
The members, who had been deployed on a 24-hour shift at the mining shaft, were on duty as part of Operation Vala Umgodi – an operation that deals with illegal mining activities.
SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini said the deceased members were found inside a container structure which was used as a guard house for those on 24 hours duty.
He said when the next shift was taking over the following morning, the four men were found with their rifles and personal belongings still with them.
“SAPS was called in, and upon inspection of the scene, all four had died,” Dlamini said in a statement on Sunday.
He said the district surgeon examined the bodies and confirmed that they sustained no injuries.
“A team from the Pretoria FSL Chemistry Unit also attended the scene and preliminary findings are that the death of the members could have been caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, from a possible fire made by the members during the cold night inside the container structure.
“The bodies of the deceased were transported to the Klerksdorp State mortuary for further investigation and for post-mortems to be conducted.
“The names of the deceased will be announced once the families have been informed and all processes and formalities have been completed following with the announcement of the funeral arrangements,” Dlamini said.
