Only 26 South Africans were among the almost 2,000 zama zamas who resurfaced alive from the Stilfontein illegal mining operations.

SAPS national spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe said their operation at the Buffelsfontein shaft 11 that started on Monday led to the retrieval of 246 people and 78 bodies.

Breakdown of the nationalities of those retrieved:

Mathe said between August 18 2024 and Wednesday, 1,905 zama zamas had resurfaced.

At the Margaret shaft, also in Stilfontein, 1,437 illegal miners resurfaced.