In a crackdown on illegal gold mines in South Africa, police have cut off all sources of food to miners.
According to a global news agency, hundreds of miners have been left in a state of emergency after food supplies to miners were cut off for months.
So far, the bodies of 84 miners who died of starvation have been recovered, while 270 have been taken to hospital by police, where their condition is said to be critical.
Police say the death toll is likely to rise. The surviving miners will be prosecuted.
Labor unions have strongly protested the police’s decision to cut off food to miners and threaten to prosecute emaciated and weak miners.
Labor leaders say the police killed those who worked hard to feed themselves and their families.
On the other hand, police say that the food supply line had been cut off since August to force workers hiding in underground mines to come out.
The police further said that those involved in illegal mining were willing to go hungry but did not come out and get arrested.
This police action has the full blessing of the government as these illegal gold mines were causing thousands of dollars in losses.