225 illegal miners arrested at abandoned mine shaft in Orkney

JOHANNESBURG - Police have arrested 225 illegal miners at an old abandoned mine shift in Orkney, in the North West.
 
This operation was carried out by the Vala Umgodi task team in the province.

This after members of the SAPS and SANDF discovered communities in Orkney were delivering food parcels, water and necessities to the illegal miners. 
 
Authorities then blocked this exercise, resulting in the miners resurfacing due to starvation and dehydration. 
 
It is believed that there may be hundreds more stuck underground.

SAPS national spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said: "These 225 illegal miners are part of others believed to be hundreds if not a thousand illegal miners who are stuck underground with no food, water and necessities because the Vala Umgodi teams led by the SAPS and SANDF are blocking routes used to deliver food and necessities to these illegal miners.

"Just earlier this week, SAPS and members of the SANDF blocked communities in and around these abandoned mining shifts in Orkney from delivering food parcels, water and necessities to these illegal miners."