POLICE Minister Senzo Mchunu says no illegal miner will remain underground forever.
This after 14 illegal miners have resurfaced in the Stilfontein mine, North West.
The zama zamas resurfaced on Sunday night, 24 November, while they were under the impression that cops had left the mine.
Among them is a 14-year-old teenager.
National police spokeswoman Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the illegal miners who resurfaced are all Mozambicans, and they're now in police cells.
"They've confirmed what police have always been saying, that firstly, there's no one trapped and that there are 10 heavily armed Basotho nationals who are guarding them and making them dig for gold. They claim the food and water that was taken down were all confiscated by these Basotho guards, and none of them were allowed to eat or drink. They are instead forced to work for the food and water," Mathe said.
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An anonymous illegal miner who resurfaced on Sunday night said he arrived at the shafts on 20 July.
"It's tough inside. I was in Diepsloot, Joburg when I was recruited and promised a job. When I arrived, they told me to go underground."
He said that they ran out of food for a long time, and he was working without getting paid.
"I ran for my life. I hope the police will assist because many people are still underground. They're hungry, and there's no food. People get beaten in there. When I came here, I didn't know this was the kind of job I'd be doing," he said.
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