Authorities warned that any miners daring to surface would face arrest, heightening the tense standoff.
News of the alleged extraterrestrial attackers quickly spread online as believers, skeptics, and internet sleuths around the world analyzed grainy videos posted by members of the Ikitu community.
Illegal miners can make as much as R40 000 a month but if they want creature comforts, their bottom line is going to take a hit.