WATCH: Desperate illegal miner wants to go underground to earn a living

STILFONTEIN - An illegal miner who resurfaced from an abandoned mine in Stilfontein, in the North West, says he's desperate to return underground to earn a living.

The man, who spoke to Eyewitness News on condition of anonymity was among hundreds of zama zamas working underground at a disused shaft. 

But he has since returned to the surface after police cut off the miners’ food and water supplies in a bid to shut down the illegal mining operation. 

He said he had no alternative plan to make a living.

READ: Community members in Stilfontein blame govt's failures for rise in illegal mining

"I won't be able to go down the shaft for now and that’s a big problem for me. As I stand here now, I don’t know what my family will eat. I have nothing to my name," he said.

The illegal miner accused the government of turning a blind eye to the communities’ challenges. 

"We need the Department of Mineral Resources to visit the province and see our living conditions. We are dependent on grants and illegal mining, there are no other options for us," he added.