After weeks of intensified Vala Umgodi operations, the Pretoria High Court has once again granted an interim order for humanitarian aid for illegal miners still underground at the disused mine in Stifontein, North West.

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This is the second attempt to force authorities to handle the operation differently, seeking leniency for illegal miners who remain underground at the Stilfontein mine.

Through operation Vala Umgodi food, water and other supplies were cut off and couldn?t reach their intended destination which is the mine.

It was the Mining Affected Communities United in Action, an NGO, that filed an urgent application seeking the court's intervention.

The NGO claimed that their attempts to send food, water and medication down to the illegal miners were made impossible by the police.

The interim court order has granted permission to charity groups and the community to send down essentials in the midst of the ongoing operation.

PROGRESS

Meanwhile police reported that 17 other illegal miners resurfaced yesterday in Stilfontein, bringing the number to 21.

"The latest groups resurfaced from Harmony Gold's Margaret Shaft while a smaller group resurfaced from Shaft 10 at the Old Buffelsfontein Gold Mine early yesterday. They are still being processed and one of the four that resurfaced at shaft number 10, have been taken to hospital for medical observation,"said North West Police spokesperson Sabata Mokgwabone

Mokgwabone said they have all since been arrested on a range of charges including trespassing.