### South African Court Orders Police to End Standoff with Illegal Miners

A High Court in Pretoria has directed South African police to end their standoff with illegal miners in Stilfontein and permit emergency workers access to a mine shaft where hundreds are thought to be trapped. This interim ruling requires authorities to ensure that all miners underground can exit freely without hindrance, according to state broadcaster SABC.

Attorney Yasmin Omar, who played a key role in bringing the case before the court, noted that the decision is a temporary measure, with a full hearing scheduled for next week. The order comes amid rising concerns over the conditions of the illegal miners, who may remain underground for extended periods. Previously, police had cut off food and water supplies, exacerbating fears for the miners' well-being.

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) announced on Friday that it is investigating the police for restricting essential supplies to the miners. At least one decomposed body has already been recovered from the mine, according to police reports.

This mine blockade is part of a wider crackdown on illegal mining activities by the government and police. David Van Wyk, a lead researcher at the Johannesburg-based Benchmarks Foundation, highlighted that around 6,000 abandoned mines in the country are susceptible to illegal mining due to insufficient closure by large-scale companies and multinational corporations. High unemployment and poverty rates also force local residents into perilous jobs such as illegal mining.

The South African Police Service has welcomed the court’s directive but stipulated that the order does not prevent the arrest of illegal miners who are found to be in good health. "Those who resurface will continue to be assessed by emergency medical personnel on site," the police explained in a Facebook post. "Those in good health will be detained, while those needing further medical care will be taken to hospital under police guard."

Operations targeting abandoned and disused mining shafts in Stilfontein will persist, the police added, reiterating their call for all illegal miners to come to the surface. By Saturday afternoon, three illegal miners had surfaced. Additionally, a South African national was apprehended on the same day in Kanana at a residence used as a smelting facility for purifying gold.