Miners stuck in S African shaft get water to drink

ILLEGAL miners at a disused South African shaft are starving because police are limiting supplies in an attempt to force out the hundreds believed to be underground, a miner and a community leader said.

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One decomposed body was brought out last week from the shaft at Stilfontein, about 140 kms southwest of Johannesburg, and there are fears there may be more. "There's nothing left for someone to eat, to drink or anything that can make a human being survive. There is nothing left underground for now," said miner Ayanda Ndabeni who was hoisted out the shaft by rope on Friday.