A desperate fight for survival, harsh criticism of the authorities and millions in damage to South Africa's economy: the drama surrounding trapped illegal miners in the abandoned gold mine near ...

President @CyrilRamaphosa, accompanied by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola and Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, will attend today's proceedings.

Authorities made clear their approach when South African Cabinet Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni told reporters in November that the government would not help the miners, who they consider criminals.

SMOKE THEM OUT' Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said in November: "We are not sending help to criminals. We are going to smoke them out." But a court said in December that ...

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has contradicted Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni's previous statement that the government would ‘smoke out’ illegal miners in Stilfontein.

Authorities have come under scrutiny for their tactics after South African Cabinet Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni told reporters in November that the government would not help the miners ...

At the time, Cabinet minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the government would not help the illegal miners, and told reporters: "We are not sending help to criminals. "We are going to smoke them out.