### South African Authorities Criticized for Starving Miners Out of Underground Hiding

Access to basic supplies has been disrupted for hundreds of illegal miners hiding in a northwest mine shaft in South Africa, causing widespread concern and outrage. Authorities have adopted a controversial method to force miners, who are over a mile underground, to the surface by cutting off food and water supplies. The South African Human Rights Commission is currently investigating complaints about this tactic, which has been in action for nearly three months at the Stilfontein site, about 90 miles west of Johannesburg.

On November 2, police reported that 225 miners were compelled to leave a mine in Orkney due to starvation and dehydration after three months of restricted access to food and water. Authorities even blocked local community members from delivering essential supplies to the miners. Salomé Kotzé, editor of the Klerksdorp Record in nearby Orkney, described the situation as inhumane, emphasizing that these illegal miners, often involved in violent territorial disputes, are still human beings with families.

The crackdown on illegal mining, known as "Vala Umgodi," has drawn severe criticism for its harsh tactics. In one incident on Thursday, a decomposing body was retrieved from the Stilfontein mine, with investigations ongoing to determine the cause of death. Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has been visiting the affected sites to develop plans for resolving the situation. President Cyril Ramaphosa previously deployed 3,300 troops to assist in curbing illegal mining activities after a series of lethal incidents, including a gas explosion that killed 31 people.

Critics argue that the responsibility for the current crisis lies with mining corporations that abandoned unprofitable shafts, making way for unlicensed miners. The South African Federation of Trade Unions has expressed extreme concern, warning that the current approach could lead to tragedy if miners are unable to make it back to the surface safely. Authorities acknowledge that the situation underground is dire, with many miners falling ill.

Researcher Vidette Bester from the University of Johannesburg highlighted that blocking food and water on such a scale is unprecedented in South Africa. With estimates suggesting between 30,000 and 100,000 unlicensed miners in the country, she calls for additional measures beyond policing to address the illegal mining issue effectively, including making it easier to obtain mining licenses, retraining programs, and tackling economic factors like high unemployment and poverty.