Thousands of miners hide in abandoned South African mine amid police crackdown

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - Thousands of illegal miners, fearing arrest, are reportedly hiding in an abandoned mine in South Africa’s North West province, where they are said to be running out of supplies, officials said Thursday.

Police in Stilfontein have launched an operation to curb illegal mining, cutting off food and water to force the miners to the surface, where they will face arrest.

National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe told reporters that officials will not send officers underground, citing safety concerns.

“There are hazardous gases flowing down there. There is high risk of loss of life. Secondly, according to our intelligence, these illegal miners may be heavily armed,” she said.

Mathe noted that since Operation Vala Umgodi, or Close the Hole, began in December 2013, more than 13,000 illegal miners have been arrested. Since December, police have seized more than 369 high-caliber firearms, along with ammunition, cash and uncut diamonds.

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni stated Wednesday that the government would not assist the illegal miners, whose exact numbers remain unknown.

“We are not sending help to criminals. We are going to smoke them out. They will come out,” Ntshavheni told reporters. “We didn’t send them there. And they didn’t go down there for the good benefit or good intentions for the republic. So, we can’t help them.”

The comments have been criticized by some who are urging the government to approach the situation with empathy, warning that lives may be lost.​​​​​​​