South African government refuses to help nearly 4,000 miners trapped in mine
He south african government Refuses to help people around 4,000 miners trapped In an abandoned mine in the town of Stilfontein, North West Province. He accuses them of being illegal labor And as part of an official strategy against illegal mining, they have been rejected access to basic supplies,
The miners trapped in the shaft are currently short of food, water and other necessities, as are the police closed the entrance Used to carry their supplies underground. On Wednesday, Cabinet Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavweni told the press that the executive I will not send any help Illegal miners because “they are involved in a criminal act.
a police operation
The measure is part of the Wala Umgodi police operation, which involves cutting off supplies to miners force them to return to the surface And be arrested. For this reason, the security forces have deployed their agents waiting for them to come out of the mines. North West police spokesman Sabata Mokgwabon has indicated that there may be 4,000 miners underground, but has given no official estimate.
This is not an isolated operation, as more than 1,000 miners have come to the surface in recent weeks Multiple mines in one provinceMost were in very poor health, hungry and sick from spending several weeks without basic supplies.
Additionally, several media outlets have captured several forensic experts and rescue workers being transported dead body of a miner In the back of a van. This is information about which the police do not want to comment.
general illegal mining area
Illegal mining is a common activity in the former goldfields of South Africa. These miners enter closed shafts to dig up potential remaining deposits.
Officials have reported that these groups of people are heavily armed and disputes between rival groups sometimes escalate into deadly clashes.