The siege, aimed at flushing out illegal miners in South Africa, highlights the tension between human rights and law enforcement in a nation struggling with high crime rates.
Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni stated, "We are not sending help to criminals. We are going to smoke them out. Criminals are not to be helped, they are to be persecuted."
The authorities report that as many as 400 miners may still be underground, amid fears for their survival due to lack of food and water.
The crackdown on illegal mining reflects South Africa's broader struggles with unemployment and public safety, as the dark legacy of mining continues to affect communities.
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