South African police have cut off food supplies to illegal miners holed up in an abandoned gold mine. Relatives are calling on the government to show leniency. Illegal mining is widespread due to a lack of work in official mines. Dianne Hawker reports from Stilfontein.
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00:00Tears of anguish from a mother and wife.
00:06Nozi Ponduli's two sons and husband are among the illegal miners currently trapped underground.
00:14The last time they received food was on Saturday.
00:20The main thing we're asking the government for is to send them food.
00:26They need food to survive underground.
00:29If they don't eat, how will they stay alive?
00:32How will they survive?
00:44Last Friday, the South African government announced it was planning a rescue mission.
00:51But a week later, there's been little movement and little explanation about what is causing the delay.
01:11Police say those involved in illegal mining operations should be prosecuted.
01:16And that's why they initially blocked shaft entrances and food supplies from reaching those underground.
01:23Volunteers have pulled 11 people out from the Stilfontaine mine so far,
01:30using ropes and pulleys to bring them to the surface.
01:35Ayanda Ndabeni is one of those rescued in this way.
01:41He says those left underground are feeling the effects of the police blockade.
01:46When I was rescued, the people that were left behind were in bad shape.
01:53They were in very bad shape.
01:57Some of them were on medication, and they'd run out because the police had closed off all communication with those above ground.
02:06There was no food left, and we ran out of water.
02:11Some people were very weak.
02:15Ndabeni says many people from towns around disused mines rely on illegal mining to get by.
02:22Many are former mine workers who know where to find the gold.
02:27We try our hardest to get jobs in the formal sector.
02:32But because there are too few jobs in South Africa, we end up living this life of illegal mining.
02:39It's not something we want to do. Circumstances have pushed us in this direction.
02:46After spending two months underground, and almost not making it out, I ask him this simple question.
02:54You've been rescued. Would you go back underground?
03:00If the police operation stops and they allow us to go back,
03:06if they say they won't arrest us and they let us work, I would go back immediately.
03:16Police say they've detained 15,000 illegal miners since December 2023, and those numbers keep growing.
03:25A sign that many people are willing to risk death and arrest for a chance to survive.