Hundreds or even thousands of people are trapped in a gold mine in South Africa's North West Province. Trapped, that is, by authorities waiting to arrest them for illegal mining. Relatives have been blocked from providing food or water to the miners - a law enforcement tactic they say is already having deadly consequences.

South Africa's President says lives should not be put at risk in a stand-off between police and people involved in illegal mining.

Estimated hundreds of illegal miners are still being trapped underground in South Africa's North West province after a court has ordered police to let them leave. For weeks, authorities had blocked supply lines of food and water to force the miners out.South Africa: 4,000 Illegal Gold Miners Still Trapped Underground; Police Block Supplies

In a remarkable turn of events, South Africa’s sporting landscape has been revitalised by a trio of visionary coaches.

South African authorities lifted the bodies of 60 people from an abandoned gold mine, police have said. Hundreds more people could be underground following a monthslong effort to force them out of the mine.