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Trapped South African miners arrested after escape Trapped South African miners arrested after escape
(about 2 hours later)
Ten illegal gold miners have emerged, dusty and thirsty, from an old South African mine in which more are feared trapped.Ten illegal gold miners have emerged, dusty and thirsty, from an old South African mine in which more are feared trapped.
Some of the men came out when it seemed the threat of arrest had abated - but all 10 have now been detained, the BBC's Nomsa Maseko tweeted.Some of the men came out when it seemed the threat of arrest had abated - but all 10 have now been detained, the BBC's Nomsa Maseko tweeted.
The police were hidden behind a fire engine, she said.The police were hidden behind a fire engine, she said.
The miners are reported to have been trapped by a group of rival illegal miners.The miners are reported to have been trapped by a group of rival illegal miners.
The landscape around the abandoned mine near Johannesburg is dotted with similar abandoned shafts - attracting men from around the region with the promise of remaining gold deposits.The landscape around the abandoned mine near Johannesburg is dotted with similar abandoned shafts - attracting men from around the region with the promise of remaining gold deposits.
Some men may also be resisting coming to the surface of the mine because they fear losing any gold they have found, say correspondents.Some men may also be resisting coming to the surface of the mine because they fear losing any gold they have found, say correspondents.
Previous reports suggested as many as 200 fellow miners remained underground, but our correspondent says the latest estimates put the figure far lower.Previous reports suggested as many as 200 fellow miners remained underground, but our correspondent says the latest estimates put the figure far lower.
It is not clear when this operation will end, as it is not known exactly how many remain underground. It is not clear when this operation will end, as it is not known exactly how many remain underground. They are once more refusing to come up in case they are arrested, our correspondent says.
Many of the miners are from Mozambique and Lesotho, officials say.
Police tacticPolice tactic
The official rescue operation was suspended on Sunday after 11 miners agreed to come out. All 11 have now been charged.The official rescue operation was suspended on Sunday after 11 miners agreed to come out. All 11 have now been charged.
Other trapped miners refused to leave after discovering they faced arrest.Other trapped miners refused to leave after discovering they faced arrest.
Earlier on Monday, a man was seen shouting down the shaft: "It is safe to come out, the police are not here," our correspondent tweeted from the scene.Earlier on Monday, a man was seen shouting down the shaft: "It is safe to come out, the police are not here," our correspondent tweeted from the scene.
Rescue personnel were seen negotiating with the men and those emerging were not immediately arrested.Rescue personnel were seen negotiating with the men and those emerging were not immediately arrested.
But in a later tweet, our correspondent said a police van had been hidden at the scene and she later confirmed all 10 men who resurfaced on Monday had in fact been arrested.But in a later tweet, our correspondent said a police van had been hidden at the scene and she later confirmed all 10 men who resurfaced on Monday had in fact been arrested.
It appears police "'allowed' one miner to walk away - as a tactic to convince others to come out," our correspondent tweeted.It appears police "'allowed' one miner to walk away - as a tactic to convince others to come out," our correspondent tweeted.
The men are believed to have become trapped because a rival group of miners stole some of their gold haul and then blocked the shaft with rocks to prevent a pursuit.The men are believed to have become trapped because a rival group of miners stole some of their gold haul and then blocked the shaft with rocks to prevent a pursuit.
The miners are believed to have been trapped since Saturday morning in an open field near the town of Benoni.The miners are believed to have been trapped since Saturday morning in an open field near the town of Benoni.
The men used an old ventilation shaft to access the mine - one of many such holes in the area.The men used an old ventilation shaft to access the mine - one of many such holes in the area.
Police heard cries for help when they were patrolling the area on Sunday morning.Police heard cries for help when they were patrolling the area on Sunday morning.
It is not just the threat of arrest deterring the men from coming to the surface, our correspondent says.It is not just the threat of arrest deterring the men from coming to the surface, our correspondent says.
The men do not want to relinquish the gold they have found. They are leaving gold underground because they know they will face a harsher jail term if found in possession of illegally mined gold.The men do not want to relinquish the gold they have found. They are leaving gold underground because they know they will face a harsher jail term if found in possession of illegally mined gold.
Mining is a vital part of the South African economy and the country is the fourth-biggest gold exporter.Mining is a vital part of the South African economy and the country is the fourth-biggest gold exporter.
According to South Africa's Department of Mineral Resources, a 2008 study of the gold sector found that an estimated $509m (£309m) in revenue was lost a year as a result of illegal mining.According to South Africa's Department of Mineral Resources, a 2008 study of the gold sector found that an estimated $509m (£309m) in revenue was lost a year as a result of illegal mining.
South Africa has some of the world's deepest gold mines and safety is a major issue.South Africa has some of the world's deepest gold mines and safety is a major issue.