Stilfontein: A total of 14 illegal miners were arrested after they emerged from the disused mines in Stilfontein in the North West, where they had been holed up for months following the arrival of police as part of Operation Vala Umgodi.

According to South African Government News Agency, the illegal miners resurfaced at night under the impression that police were not standing guard. Some ran back into the shaft as soon as they noticed the police. All the arrested illegal miners are Mozambican nationals, and a 14-year-old boy is among them.

Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe stated that the illegal miners resurfaced near a shaft from which other illegal miners have been resurfacing. Mathe mentioned that the resurfacing of the illegal miners proves they are not trapped but are simply refusing to resurface.

The miners confirmed that there are heavily armed men who are guarding them and forcing them to dig for gold. ‘They told us the food and water that has been sent down was confiscated by the heavily armed
men and not given to the miners. They are keeping it for themselves because they want to continue illegal mining operations,’ said Mathe.

Police operations are ongoing, with more than 1,000 illegal miners having resurfaced in recent weeks after Operation Vala Umgodi was mounted by police in the North West.