An illegal miner was shot dead at Harmony Gold's Tshepong mine in Welkom on Wednesday, Free State police said.
The shooting happened underground at 6am in view of other workers, said Captain Stephen Thakeng.
Police believed the gunman was also an illegal miner.
“An illegal miner appeared (wearing) a balaclava and fatally (shot) another illegal miner in his upper body.”
Police suspected the perpetrator was linked to the murder of two other illegal miners in Odendaalsrus last week.
Three illegal miners were killed at Harmony's Masimong and Tshepong mines during the past weekend, apparently in a fight between Sotho and Shona illegal workers. – Sapa