South Africa War On Illegal Mines... "Cutting Off Food Supply In Trenches"

South Africa, which has launched a major illegal mine crackdown, has cut off water and food supplies to hundreds of people digging for minerals from abandoned mines.

Local police, which have been cracking down on illegal mines in northwestern South Africa since last month, have blocked the Steelfontaine mine, which is believed to have more than 400 people in an underground mine.

Police say it's too dangerous to go underground to arrest them, and they plan to arrest them if they get tired of hunger.

Illegal miners in South Africa are usually armed and active with heavy weapons, and bloody clashes are reported between rival factions.

Police have cracked down on illegal mines for nearly a year, confiscating more than 300 weapons, live ammunition, 32 million rand of diamond stone, and 2.4 billion won worth of Korean money.