Hundreds of clandestine miners believed to be underground at a disused South African shaft are struggling to survive amidst a weeks-long standoff with police. For nearly two weeks police have been stationed outside the abandoned gold mine at Stilfontein, about 150 kilometres (100 miles) southwest of Johannesburg, intermittently blocking locals from sending down food and water, and arresting undocumented migrants who surface. "They are very critical, they can’t even speak, they can’t drink," says Thabang Morulane, one of the volunteers who is helping rescue the miners. "Honestly, they are starving down there." IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES