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Trapped South African miners arrested after escape | Trapped South African miners arrested after escape |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Ten illegal gold miners have emerged from an old South African mine, with more still underground. | Ten illegal gold miners have emerged from an old South African mine, with more still underground. |
Some of the men came out after being told there were no police around - but all 10 have now been arrested by police who had been hiding, the BBC's Nomsa Maseko tweeted. | Some of the men came out after being told there were no police around - but all 10 have now been arrested by police who had been hiding, the BBC's Nomsa Maseko tweeted. |
The miners are reported to have been trapped by a rival group. | The miners are reported to have been trapped by a rival group. |
Those underground are once more refusing to leave the mine shaft for fear of being arrested. | Those underground are once more refusing to leave the mine shaft for fear of being arrested. |
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, at about 15. | Previous reports suggested as many as 200 fellow miners remained underground, but our correspondent says the latest estimates put the figure far lower, at about 15. |
It is not clear when this operation will end, as it is not known exactly how many remain in the vast network of underground tunnels, our correspondent says. | |
She says that such miners often take enough food and water to be able to survive underground for several days. | She says that such miners often take enough food and water to be able to survive underground for several days. |
One man came halfway up the shaft and then turned round when he saw the cameras. | One man came halfway up the shaft and then turned round when he saw the cameras. |
Notices warning miners that they face arrest and that the mine will be sealed in two weeks' time have been thrown down the shaft. | Notices warning miners that they face arrest and that the mine will be sealed in two weeks' time have been thrown down the shaft. |
Many of the miners are from Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, officials say. | Many of the miners are from Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, officials say. |
Police tactic | Police tactic |
The official rescue operation was suspended on Sunday after 11 miners agreed to come out. All 11 face charges of illegal mining, police say. | The official rescue operation was suspended on Sunday after 11 miners agreed to come out. All 11 face charges of illegal mining, police say. |
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 said. | Earlier on Monday, a man was seen shouting down the shaft: "It is safe to come out, the police are not here," our correspondent said. |
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 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 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 10 men are all said to be in good health. | The 10 men are all said to be in good health. |
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. |