JOHANNESBURG – Eleven bodies riddled with bullets were recovered by police at Gold One mine, in Benoni, east of Johannesburg.

The dead miners are thought to be victims of another incident of turf wars between illegal miners.

The Gauteng Community Safety Department said it appeared the deceased were shot underground and had tried to make their way out of the mine shaft but died.

“It clearly indicates that the deceased persons were shot under ground. Many bullet holes were found inside the shaft, it appeared that robbery of gold aggregate was the motive,” the department said on Wednesday.

The bodies were retrieved on Tuesday night.

The department said a survivor of the shooting told police rivals accosted his group, and ordered them to walk into a shaft leading underground.

“Upon reaching the shaft, the group were shot. The first victim man was found at the opening of the shaft with two bullet wounds on his the chest and on the right leg. It appears that the deceased was shot whilst coming out of the ventilation shaft.”