‘Hostage’ situation at Gold One Mine over as the miners resurface

Lerato Mbhiza

THE ‘hostage’ situation at Gold One mine has ended as all 543 mine workers who were holed up underground resurfaced, three days after their ordeal that was triggered by a dispute over union membership.

At first reports said the miners were being held hostage by their colleague belonging to a rival union.

However, it is now reported that miners carried out a sit-in underground demanding Gold One to recognise the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) as their representatives.

Amcu has a majority of members at 1 700 while National Union for Mine Workers (Nun) has only 110.

On Tuesday night, negotiations between the mine, Amcu, Num and the CCMA collapsed with the two unions refusing to compromise on their demands.

It is alleged that the miners finally gave in due to mounting hunger and a fight that ensued between the miners who were now divided into