AN illegal miner was killed and 16 others arrested after a confrontation with security guards on Saturday night at Aurora Mine in Grootvlei, Springs.

Four Delta Blue Force security guards have been arrested and face charges of murder, attempted murder and assault.

While union officials say there was another incident in which mine hostel dwellers confronted illegal miners, police could only confirm the first one.

Warrant Officer Tommy Tomlinson said security guards at one of the shafts arrested 16 illegal miners.

"One illegal miner was killed by the guards during a confrontation," he said.

Police arrested the 16 illegal miners and charged them with illegal mining and trespassing.

"We also arrested four security guards on the scene and charged them with murder, attempted murder and assault," he said.

Tomlinson said the 20 men would all appear in the Springs magistrate's court today.

National Union of Mineworkers' branch chairperson Frasy Namanyana said there had been two incidents involving security guards at the mine.

"There was a confrontation between illegal miners and security guards on Saturday night in which one of the miners was killed and the others injured," he said.

The two injured were taken to hospital. The Far East Rand Hospital confirmed that two assaulted mine workers came in with the police.

They were treated and then released yesterday.

"This morning (yesterday) mine hostel dwellers confronted illegal miners and assaulted six of them, Namanyana said.

"They also assaulted security guards whom they found with stolen copper cables."

Tomlinson said he did not know about the other incident.