South Africa cuts supplies to thousands of illegal miners hiding underground

South Africa’s government says it won’t help a group of illegal miners inside a closed mine who have been denied access to basic supplies as part of an official strategy against illegal mining.

The group has been in a mineshaft in Stilfontein, in the North West province, for about a month.

They have refused to cooperate with authorities, as some are undocumented - coming from neighbouring countries like Lesotho and Mozambique - and fear being deported.