Upwards of 4,000 illegal miners are believed to be inside an abandoned shaft in the country's North West province. A government minister warned, "we are going to smoke them out." South Africa's government says it is not willing to help around 4,

South Africa’s government says it will not help an estimated 4,000 illegal miners inside a closed mine in the country’s North West province as part of an official policy against illegal mining.

Police in South Africa have forced 540 illegal miners out of an abandoned mine shaft and arrested them. Earlier this week, security forces blocked deliveries of food and water to the miners in a bid to push them out of the mine. The miners experienced "starvation and dehydration" and were forced to resurface, police say.

Officials are hoping the strategy will force the workers out of the mineshaft and to the surface, where they will be arrested.

South African police and ambulances were at the site Thursday of an old gold mine shaft where around 4,000 illegal miners were claimed to be underground, facing arrest if they surface.

Up to 4,000 illegal miners are estimated to be underground in an abandoned mine while South African authorities try to clear them out and arrest them. View on euronews