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Households gather at South African mine shaft where hundreds are feared underground

Desperate family members of unlawful miners believed to number in the hundreds waited outside a disused mine shaft in South Africa on Friday in the hope of their loved ones emerging from the hole in the ground.

The miners remain in a standoff with authorities, who have actually obstructed their materials of food and water and are attempting to require them out to detain them for illegally getting in the abandoned mine in search of leftover gold - a typical problem in South Africa.

More than 1,000 unlawful miners have already resurfaced in recent weeks as the cops have split down, and a minimum of one dead body has been brought up.

It was unclear if those staying in the mine in Stilfontein, North West province, were unwilling or not able to leave the shaft, which comes down vertically for more than 2 km (1.2 miles) underground.

Police and community members stood around the rocky entryway, where a wheel had actually been established to hoist males out.

I'm here waiting for youths who are underground, who are dying, Zimbabwean nationwide Roselina Nyuzeya informed Reuters from behind the cops barricade obstructing access to the open hole.

A woman sobbing close-by was waiting for her spouse, who had been underground since April, Nyuzeya stated.

Illegal mining has actually plagued South Africa for years through small-time pilfering and arranged criminal networks. A number of those who do the dangerous work of getting into old commercial mines are immigrants from neighbouring countries.

They are referred to as zama-zamas - a local term that comes from the Zulu expression for taking a chance.

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said on Wednesday the government would not send help for lawbreakers but rather would smoke them out

Some community members held signs that read Smoke ANC out. in action, referring to the governing African National Congress celebration.

We are requesting help from the government to assist us so our children can come out of the mine. All we are requesting is their remains to come out, said Matsidiso Ramolla, a. 41-one-year-old homeowner of Stilfontein.

(source: Reuters)