TENSIONS are escalating at the Tshepong mine in Free State after two illegal miners were killed over the weekend.

Eric Ngcilitshala, head of health and safety at the National Union of Mineworkers, said yesterday that the situation, was out of hand after illegal miners known as the zamazama group, were apparently attacked by miners.

"The zamazamas are highly organised and they are heavily armed. The information we got is that a suspected member of the group, which mines illegally, was shot and the another hit over the head with a sharp object that is used underground," Ngcilitshala said.

He said the fighting started on Friday and continued until yesterday when the mine security and police officers went underground to investigate.

"It is still tense. The zamazama group is made up of unknown people. They are faceless," he said.

Police confirmed that two bodies of illegal miners were found at the mine.

Free State police spokesman Captain Stephan Thakeng said mine workers discovered the bodies when they started their shift at 5.30am on Saturday.

Thakeng said it appeared that the two men had been killed in fighting underground.

Earlier police arrested 44 illegal miners during a police operation at Thabong and Virginia. Police focussed on Merriespruit in Virginia and the area between the Leseding Technical School and Rathaba Hostel, including an area opposite GHostel in Thabong.

At the Merriespruit mine 38 illegal miners were arrested for trespassing on mine properties. Six were arrested at Thabong and most of the suspects were also undocumented.

Police confiscated basins, mats and other equipment used for the illegal processing of gold dust. Huge amounts of copper cable were also confiscated.