South Africa's Illegal Miners: Underground Standoff Highlights Desperation and Injustice
Hundreds of illegal gold miners, known as zama-zamas, are trapped in a disused mine shaft in Stilfontein, South Africa, in a standoff with police who have blocked their food supplies to force them out. The miners, fearing arrest and deportation, are surviving in dire conditions, with some resorting to eating toothpaste and toilet paper. A court has ordered police to allow food and medical supplies to reach them, and a rescue operation is being planned. The situation highlights the broader issue of illegal mining in South Africa, driven by poverty and unemployment.