- South Africa cuts supplies to illegal miners hiding underground
- The move will see food and water cut off in attempt to force them out
- Many are believed to be undocumented migrants who fear deportation
South Africa cuts supplies to illegal miners hiding underground
In South Africa, approximately 4,000 illegal gold miners are hiding underground in Stilfontein as the government move to cut off their access to food and water, in an attempt to force them out.
Authorities are trying to force the miners to surface for arrest. Many are undocumented migrants from neighbouring countries like Lesotho and Mozambique and fear deportation.
Illegal mining, often conducted in abandoned mines, is a widespread issue in the mineral-rich nation, costing South Africa millions in lost revenue annually.
Miners, driven by poverty, often stay underground for months, digging for gold, which they later sell on the black market. For most, this is how they provide for their families.
Efforts to bring them to the surface have faced challenges, with authorities reluctant to go into the mine over fears some inside might be armed.
Over 1,000 miners have emerged in recent days, many requiring medical attention before being arrested.