South African police have sealed the entrances to a mineshaft in Stilfontein that were previously used to transport supplies, aiming to compel illegal miners to resurface, where they will then face arrest.

According to AP, the South African government has announced that it will not assist approximately 4,000 illegal miners trapped inside a sealed-off mine in the North West province, as this stance aligns with its official policy against illegal mining activities.

The miners, who are in a mine shaft in Stilfontein, are reportedly enduring severe shortages of food, water, and other basic needs after police closed off the entrances previously used to deliver supplies underground. This closure is part of the police’s "Vala Umgodi" or "Close the Hole" operation, which aims to block off access to essential resources and force the miners to resurface, where they will then be taken into custody.

In recent weeks, over 1,000 miners have emerged from various mines across the North West province, with many appearing in a weakened and malnourished state after being underground for extended periods without adequate supplies.

This week, around 20 miners have surfaced from the Stilfontein mine as police continue to monitor the area closely, prepared to apprehend anyone who appears from below.

Cabinet Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni reaffirmed the government’s stance on Wednesday, declaring that no aid would be provided to those involved in illegal mining.

“We are not sending help to criminals. We are going to smoke them out. They will come out. Criminals are not to be helped; criminals are to be prosecuted. We didn’t send them there,” Ntshavheni stated.

Illegal mining is still widespread in South Africa’s former gold-mining regions, where miners frequently enter closed shafts in search of any remaining gold deposits. Many of these miners originate from neighboring countries, and authorities claim that larger criminal syndicates often coordinate illegal mining operations and employ these individuals.

Communities near these closed mines have expressed concerns, reporting that illegal miners engage in criminal activities that include robberies and sexual violence. These mining syndicates are often heavily armed, and conflicts between rival groups have occasionally led to deadly clashes.