A woman's body was found in a pool of blood about 25km underground in a mine shaft at the Khomanani Mine in Rustenburg, North West police said on Tuesday.
The 35-year-old female mine worker's body was found on Monday by a colleague who reported the incident to mine management, Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.
A stone with blood stains on it and a lunch box were found next to the body.
Police will do a DNA analysis to determine whether the woman was raped, said Ngubane.
A murder docket was opened. - Sapa