Court Lifts Blockade as Miner Crisis Grows

South African authorities are grappling with the crisis of illegal miners trapped in the Stilfontein goldmine, after police cut off their supplies to force them out. The Pretoria High Court ordered the police to lift the blockade, allowing trapped miners to exit, although the government, represented by Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, remains firm against aiding 'criminals'. The ruling prohibits any entity from blocking the mine but restricts non-emergency personnel from entering. The situation escalated with reports of miners surviving on vinegar and toothpaste and at least one decomposed body being recovered. This incident has sparked debate over the government's approach to illegal mining and the treatment of vulnerable populations, highlighting broader issues driven by unemployment and poverty, with operations often linked to criminal syndicates. Efforts to crack down on illegal mining have intensified, as seen with the government's Operation Vala Umgodi.