At least 60 dead bodies have been retrieved from shaft 11 at the Buffelsfontein gold mine since the start of the week.
It is believed that parts of the shaft are filling up with water.
The recovery teams are using a special metal cage of to lift zama zamas from the shaft. They are located more than 2km underground.
Yesterday the cage was lowered twice to rescue 22 zama zamas and retrieve the 18 bodies, which are in different stages of decomposition.
A community leader and spokesperson for the South African National Civic Organisation in the North West, Mzukisi Jam, said that though they were relieved bodies were being retrieved, the loss of lives could have been prevented had government acted earlier.
“Government was forced to do this. When we first engaged with government, there was no-one dead,” he said.
Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe said that the blame cannot be placed on the government’s doorstep.
“If you go and steal gold, you cannot give anybody any responsibility for that. It’s your responsibility. We’re told this gold goes to somebody, they must also take responsibility for them.”
Some of the illegal miners who have died will be repatriated to their home countries for burial.