South African Police standoff with hundreds of illegal miners in abandoned gold shaft: Video

Police said the remains were discovered at a mine in Stilfontein, about 140 kilometres (90 miles) southwest of Johannesburg, where authorities have been conducting a weeks-long operation to dislodge the miners.

The recovery marks the first confirmed fatality from the operation, which is ongoing as authorities attempt to force illegal miners to surface. In addition to the body, two miners were rescued alive on Thursday, adding to the five who surfaced the day before.

Police have suggested that up to 300 people may still be trapped underground, though reports from the local community have estimated the number of miners in the shaft could be as high as 4,000.

National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirmed that over 1,170 people had emerged from the mine since the operation began, although many miners remain defiant, refusing to come up for fear of arrest.

According to Mathe, intelligence reports indicate that the miners have weapons and are determined to stay underground, despite efforts to starve them out by restricting food and water supplies.

The operation has drawn attention from residents, many of whom have relatives or loved ones believed to be among the miners.

"Those people must come out because we have brothers there, we have sons there, the fathers of our kids are there, our children are struggling," said Emily Photsoa, a resident, speaking to AFP.

She called on the government to intervene to help the miners, while others at the scene pleaded for them to leave the shaft.

The miners, who come from both South Africa and other countries, have been accused of illegal mining, often operating in dangerous, abandoned shafts without proper safety measures.