The South African government says it will not help a group of illegal miners inside a closed mine in the country's North West province who have been denied access to basic supplies as part of an official strategy against illegal mining.
Hundreds of underground miners have been denied food and water as South African police try to coax them to the surface.Cabinet minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni vows not to help the miners, saying: "We are going to smoke them out."Share article
It is part of the police's Vala Umgodi, or Close the Hole, operation, which includes cutting off miners' supplies to force them to return to the surface and be arrested.Police had earlier indicated that information received from those who recently helped bring three miners to the surface indicated that up to 4,000 miners may be underground.
South African ministers of police and defence were expected to visit the mine to engage with officials and community members on the ground, she said. "We have taken a decision that no police officer, no soldier or government official will go down to an abandoned mine. There is a high risk of loss of life," Ms Mathe said.
Cabinet minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni told reporters on Wednesday that the government would not send any help to the illegal miners because they were involved in a criminal act.Photo shows A man in a grey black suit and glasses smiles for a photo Illegal mining remains common in South Africa's old gold-mining areas, with miners going in closed shafts to dig for any possible remaining deposits.
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