Thousands of trapped illegal miners at a closed North West mine have promised to hand themselves to the police. The group wants their dead colleagues, together with the sick and injured to be attended to first. They requested rope so bodies can be removed back to the surface. The group communicated through local community leaders, alleging to have given up on hiding underground, and were ready to exit the mine and face the law. Over 1 000 illegal miners from the shaft have already been arrested. The remaining group had their food supply cut off after police patrolled entrance and exit points.