The South African government has announced it will not assist approximately 4,000 illegal miners trapped in a closed mine shaft in North West province, standing firm on its policy against illegal mining. The miners, who are reportedly suffering from lack of food, water, and basic necessities, became stranded after authorities sealed off mine entrances used for their supplies as part of “Operation Vala Umgodi” or “Close the Hole.” The police operation, aimed at halting illegal mining, cuts off all access points, forcing miners to emerge from underground where they face arrest.

Cabinet Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni reaffirmed the government’s stance on Wednesday, saying, “We are not sending help to criminals. We are going to smoke them out. They will come out. Criminals are not to be helped; criminals are to be prosecuted. We didn’t send them there.”

In the past few weeks, over 1,000 miners have surfaced across various sites in North West province. Many emerging from the Stilfontein shaft are reportedly weak and malnourished after weeks without supplies. Police have been stationed around the mine to apprehend those coming up from the shaft, with about 20 miners surfacing this week.

Illegal mining in South Africa’s abandoned gold mines has been rampant, often involving miners from neighboring countries and organized syndicates. The operations, which dig for remaining gold deposits, are frequently armed and have caused friction with nearby communities who report increased crime from theft to sexual violence linked to the miners.