SOUTH AFRICA HOLDS FUNERALS FOR 30 UNCLAIMED BODIES RETRIEVED FROM ABANDONED GOLD MINE.

South Africa has held pauper's funerals for 30 unclaimed bodies retrieved from an abandoned gold mine in the North West province of Stilfontein. 

The bodies were among 78 illegal miners found dead in the mine during a government operation. 

According to the spokesman of North West Health Department, Tshegofatso Mothibedi, the funerals were held in Jouberton, Klerksdorp, and Kanana in Orkney.

The spokesman disclosed that 25 bodies have been positively identified through DNA testing and handed over to their families, while 20 more bodies are expected to be buried at the end of June after completing necessary documentation, adding that the government operation also rescued 246 survivors from the abandoned mine. 

Initially, only 12 bodies were identified by family members, but DNA testing has helped identify more and the remaining bodies will be buried after all documentation, including death certificates, is completed.

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