Food and water supplies to those underground have been halted by police seeking to force the illegal miners to come to the surface, according to Reuters. ‘We are going to smoke them out’Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said on Wednesday that no help would be given to the illegal miners. According to Mathe, the police spokesperson, at least 1,172 illegal miners have so far surfaced voluntarily amid the pressure campaign. “Community members are stepping in and demanding to go and rescue these illegal miners themselves. Police have been escalating attempts to stamp out the activity of illegal miners, known locally as “zama zamas.” More than a billion dollars is lost to illegal mining in South Africa annually, according to the country’s Minerals Council.

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Persons: Athlenda Mathe, Ntomboxolo Qwanti, Sabata Mokgwabone, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, ”, Mametlwe Sebei, Ntshavheni’s, Sebei, Mathe Organizations: CNN, Reuters, South Africa’s Minerals, Agence France, Presse, AFP, North West, Associated Press, General Industries Workers Union, “, Police, country’s Minerals Locations: South Africa, South, Stilfontein, North West province, North