Zama Zamas, who are still underground at the unused mine in Stillfontein in North West have requested ARVs. This was written in a note that the illegal miners sent with a rope that was sent down to rescue them by local volunteers.

PLEADING FOR LIVE-SAVING DRUGS

In a note written in IsiZulu, the illegal miner said: "Sicela amaARV pills please, abantu baya wadinga ngapha. siyacela bandla. (We are pleading for ARVS. People need them down here). A volunteer said that they sent a rope down the shaft in an attempt to get the illegal miners to resurface as they have been doing in the past few days, but they instead attached the letter to the rope. "They also said that the rope was too thin and they needed a new one as the one we sent was not safe anymore. The truth is, we have limited resources. We are now forced to go back to the community to ask for donations to buy a new rope as it is quite pricey," the volunteer said, pleading with the government to help in the rescue mission. "We are pleading with the government to help us. We really cannot do this alone with limited resources."

POLICE TO TAKE THE MEDICATION TO THE MINERS

Updating the media on the Vala Mgodi Operations in the area, Deputy Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili said the police will make sure that the zama zamas get the medication as per the Pretoria High Court interim order on Saturday, which ordered that the SAPS allow rescue teams space to do their jobs and to allow supplies of food and water to reach illegal miners underground. "The court order stated that we give necessary medication that will ensure the safety of life; if the ARVs have been requested, it will be given to the illegal miners. We have indicated that it will be done in a very coordinated manner. The team will give those ARVs that will go underground as the emergency rescue of the miners."