The South African government says it will not help around 4,000 illegal miners at a closed mine in the country’s North West province, who have been denied access to commodities under an official strategy against illegal mining.

Miners at the Stilfontein mine are reportedly suffering a lack of food, water and other essentials after police closed entrances used to transport their supplies underground.

It is part of the police’s Operation Vala Umgodi, or Close the Hole, which includes cutting off the miners’ supplies to force them to return to the surface and be arrested.

North West police spokesperson Sabata Mokgwabone said information received from those who recently helped bring three miners to the surface indicated that up to 4,000 miners could be underground. Police have not provided an official estimate.

In recent weeks, more than 1,000 miners have surfaced in various mines in the North West province, with many believed to be weak, hungry and sick after going weeks without basic supplies.

Police continue to monitor areas around the mine on Thursday to arrest anyone who appears underground.

RELATED STORY | Cease and desist letter sent to Colorado gold mine owners after deadly malfunction traps visitors

Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni told reporters on Wednesday that the government would not send any aid to illegal miners because they are involved in a criminal act.

“We don’t send aid to criminals. We’re going to smoke them out. They will come out. We must not help criminals. We didn’t send them there,” Ntshavheni said.

Illegal mining remains common in South Africa’s former gold mining areas, with miners going into closed pits to dig for possible remaining deposits.

Illegal miners often come from neighboring countries, and police say the illegal operations involve larger syndicates that employ the miners.

Their presence in closed mines has also created problems with neighboring communities, who complain that illegal miners commit crimes ranging from theft to rape.

Illegal mining groups are known to be heavily armed and conflicts between rival groups sometimes result in deadly clashes.