Relatives await news as body bags are removed from the shaft

Rescuers spent Tuesday pulling body bags and survivors from a South African mine where dozens of illegal miners are still thought to be at least 2km (1.2 miles) underground.

82 people have come out alive from the hole in Stilfontein since the rescue operation started on Monday, the police said, while 36 bodies have been removed.

On Tuesday, the BBC saw dozens of emaciated miners – wearing ragged clothes and no shoes or socks – being escorted to a medical tent.

Some of the body bags are so light that they can only be carried by one person.

This story contains video that some people may find disturbing.

The men have been undercover since the police operation against illegal mining began last year across the country.

More than 100 illegal miners, known locally as “zama zamas”, are reported to have died underground since the operation to demolish the mine 145km (90 miles) southwest of Johannesburg began last year.

The authorities have not yet confirmed this figure as it is yet to be confirmed by an official source, said a BBC spokesperson.

Relatives and members of the community were protesting at the mining site holding placards urging the authorities to rescue the miners.

They looked tired and told the BBC on Tuesday that they were tired of talking to the media.

Zinzi Tom explained that his brother, Ayanda, 29, came down from the mine in June because he was unemployed and wanted to make a living.

“We asked what he should do but he is old, he can do whatever he wants. But now that doesn’t matter. The important thing is that we want to rescue him. We want him to get out,” he said.

Some of the miners who managed to escape told Ms. Tom that her brother was not well. He hopes to be one of those rescued soon.

Ms Tom describes her brother as quiet and independent, adding: “I need to be strong for him, because I won’t be weak now. He needs me more than ever.”

The mood turned bitter for the relatives outside the mine when the train arrived carrying the Mining Minister Gwede Mantashe and the police minister in the area.

The government has been criticized for cracking down on illegal miners by denying them food and water. They also closed all but one of the mine exits.

Last week, the court ordered the government to launch a long-delayed rescue operation.

The authorities defended their strong response to the miners and in a press conference outside the mine, Mantashe said that the fight against illegal mining must be strengthened.

“It is a crime against the economy, it is an attack on the economy,” he said.

Sanco, an organization that brings together national NGOs, has been sending volunteers and rescue teams and speaking on behalf of the miners.

“We had asked at the beginning to remove the bodies first to avoid a situation where they rot in such a way that their families can no longer see them because these bodies have been there for a long time,” Sanco spokesperson in the province Mzukisi Jam told the BBC.

He added that they should also prioritize evacuating the most sick and sending food and water to the ground.

On Monday, disturbing videos surfaced showing the dire conditions at the disused gold mine.

In one of the films, which the BBC has not independently confirmed, corpses wrapped in makeshift body bags can be seen. The second shows the slim figures of some of the miners who are still alive.

During the press conference, Mantashe said that by 2024 the trade in illegal precious metals was estimated at $2.4bn (£2bn).

Mantashe also tried to talk to the protesters but was drowned out by angry speeches.

There is a feeling in Stilfontein that more could have been done to prevent the build-up of so-called underground corpses.