The event is taking place in a gold mine located in Stilfontein in the North West province of South Africa.
The police have been in a standoff with illegal miners called Zama Zamas for a weeks now as part of Operation Valu Umgodi (Close The Hole).
This initiative is focused on tackling mining in South Africa because of it's mineral resources like gold.
The authorities had stopped the food and water supplies to the mine, in order to compel the miners to come out so that the police can arrest them on the outside.
The blockade caused a crisis below ground as miners were forced to resort to measures such as consuming toothpaste and vinegar for sustenance.
Some miners were too frail to come up to the surface. There have been cases of deceased miners being retrieved from the mine.
After facing criticism and facing challenges from the Society for the Protection of Constitution regarding the treatment of these illegal miners, the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria took action on November 18th, 2024 by issuing an order to ensure that the mine shaft remained unblocked and that relief workers like medical teams could freely enter for assistance purposes.
The authorities and local rescue teams received a written letter in Zulu from the miners on that day asking for ARVs indicating that a few miners trapped underground need medication for HIV/AIDS treatment.
In response to this request and the court order the police have announced their intentions to dispatch ARVs to the illegal miners.
This decision demonstrates a change in strategy from upholding the law to addressing an urgent humanitarian requirement.
Nonetheless the police have clarified that this act of goodwill does not exempt them from fulfilling their obligation to apprehend miners who reappear.
Even though antiretroviral drugs are being distributed to those in need of them as part of the healthcare efforts in the area, authorities are also actively pursuing measures to apprehend individuals involved in illegal mining activities.
The exact count of miners still working underground remains unclear and varies widely in estimates with figures, however law enforcement officials have hinted that the actual count may be lower than these 4000 projections. Over 1 000 miners have been taken into custody since the crackdown was initiated.
Legal disputes and inquiries carried out by human rights groups regarding the police's management of the crisis have also come to light with a safeguardinge miner's rights despite their illegal actions.
The dynamic between law enforcement and human rights is intricately intertwined with illegal mining in South Africa.
This is a scenario where the pursuit of mineral riches fuels unlawful activities at deserted mines by illegal foreign individuals operating illegally.