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Illegal miners remanded in custody over Lily Mine shoot-out

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The two illegal miners arrested after a shoot-out with police at the Lily Mine have been remanded in custody. They appeared in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga.

They face charges of attempted murder, illegal mining and possession of illegal firearms.

They didn’t plead and their case was postponed to Thursday for a bail application. The two were arrested after a shoot-out with police. One illegal miner was fatally wounded and another hospitalised.

Calm has returned to the defunct mine. Authorities have vowed to beef-up security to stop the illegal mining of gold.

Illegal mining is a major concern for authorities.South Africa loses billions of rand each year due to illegal activity.

Lily mine is scheduled to re-open in November. It ceased operations in 2016 after the mine ground caved in trapping three staffers who were working in a lamp room container.

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