Reports indicate that miners grind vinegar and toothpaste to survive underground.

They are afraid to say that their health is failing and that they are too weak to manage mine on their own.

The volunteers, organized into three groups of 50 people, say it will take them about an hour to get one person out.

Lebogang Maiyane has been volunteering since the beginning of the week.

“The government does not care about the impact on the right to life of illegal miners working underground – this amounts to murder,” he said.

They call illegal miners “zama zama”, which means “take a chance” for the Zulus, and they operate in abandoned mines for mineral-rich countries.

The South African government loses hundreds of millions of dollars in sales every year.

Many South African mines have closed in recent years and workers have lost their jobs.

To survive, miners and undocumented migrants hide to escape poverty and mine gold to sell on the black market.

Some spend months underground – others work underground to sell food, cigarettes and cooked meals given to miners.

Local residents do not ask the authorities to help the miners, but they do not accept it.

“We are going to smoke them. They are going to come out. We are not sending help to criminals. Criminals do not suppose to get help – they assume that they are arrested (sic),” the Minister of Defense said on Wednesday. Chair, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.

Relatives of the miners are not demonstrating near the mining site, brandishing signs on which are written: “Smoke the ANC out” and “Down with the minister in the presidency”.

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu bin visited the site on Friday, but as he tries to keep up with community members waiting for news of their loved ones for the kick-off, they are chasing me.

Thandeka Tom, who is my brother, condemned the police for not sending help.

“They’re starting from a place of privilege, the problem of unemployment is on the agenda and they’re breaking the law as they try to put food on the table,” she told the BBC .

The police are hesitant to go to my house because some of the pipo who are in hiding are armed.

Some are part of criminal syndicates or are “recruited” to be part of them, Busi Thabane, of the Benchmarks Foundation, a charity that monitors businesses in South Africa, told the BBC Newsday programme.

Without any access to supplies, underground conditions are worse.

“Let’s not talk about illegal miners anymore – this is a humanitarian crisis,” Ms Thabane said.

On Thursday, community leader Thembile Botman told the BBC that volunteers used ropes and safety belts to pull a body like mine.

“The smell of decomposing bodies does not leave volunteers traumatized,” he said.

We don’t know how people will die.

Although authorities are not blocking food and water, they are temporarily allowing local residents to send supplies by rope.

Oga Botman said they communicated with the miners through notes written on pieces of paper.

Police do not block entrances and exits to the subway as part of efforts to force minors out.

On Wednesday, they used a rope to pull out five miners, but they are weak and tired.

The paramedics take care of them and take them into custody.

Last week, police arrested 1,000 minors.

The police and military are still at the scene and waiting to arrest those who do not need medical attention after their release.

“It’s not easy as the police say – some of them fear for their lives,” Ms Thabane said.

Many miners spend months underground in dangerous conditions to provide for their families.

“For many of them, this is the only way to know how to put food on the table,” Ms Thabane said.

Local residents also do not try to convince miners to leave the mine shafts.

“These pipo have to come out because we have brothers there, we have sons there, the fathers of our children are there, our children are having difficulties,” Emily Photsoa told AFP. ​a local resident.

The South African Human Rights Commission said they would investigate the police for denying them food and water.

They say they are concerned and say that Operation Goment is appropriate and has no impact on the right to life.

Minister Ntshavheni’s remarks do not provoke mixed reactions from South Africans, as some governments welcome the government as they do not bow to the approach of the dia.

“I love it. Finally, our government is not tiptoeing on these serious issues. The decision will help these kontri,” wrote one pesin on X.

While the odas feel in an inhumane position.

“In my opinion, this is a kind of hate speech from the minister of the presidency, shameful and dangerous hate speech,” said one user.

Anoda Pesin writes: “They are criminals but they also have rights. »

Illegal mining is a lucrative business in many South African mining towns.

Since December last year, authorities have seized nearly 400 large-caliber firearms, thousands of bullets, rough diamonds and cash from illegal miners.

This is part of an intensive police and military operation aimed at putting an end to these practices which have serious environmental consequences.