Lerato Mbhiza
At least 543 miners are said to be trapped underground and have failed to return to the surface since Sunday, in what is alleged to be a hostage drama between rival unions.
It was reported that miners belonging to the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) are holding members belonging to a rival union – the National Union of Mineworkers (Num) – hostage.
In a statement GoldOne spokesperson Jonathan Hericourt said the company remains dedicated to resolving the situation in a manner that prioritises the well-being and safety of all the employees.
Hericourt said the company is actively engaging with relevant authorities, including the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and the South African Police Service (SAPS) to ensure the safety and protection of all parties involved,” he said.
GoldOne had been granted an interdict at the Labour Court, which prohibits Acu and its members from engaging in any illegal strike or any conduct involving the detention or assault of employees, Hericourt said.
“The situation remains fluid, and we will communicate regular updates regarding the progress of this matter to all stakeholders.”
It was reported that said Amcu members welded and shut entry and exit points at the mine leaving only a closely monitored single point of access at the GoldOne mine in Springs.
Num spokesperson Livhuwani Mammburu said the hostage situation began on Sunday evening when the workers reported for night shift and were then prevented from coming back to the surface on Monday morning.
Mammburu said the workers were still being held hostage on Tuesday morning.
“Nine Num members got injured after they were assaulted by the hooligans who were preventing them from coming to the surface. They are still preventing them from coming to the surface.
“Num is also worried that there are a lot of women who are being held hostage underground. This is unacceptable.
“It was only the Num that fought for women to work in the mining industry in South Africa. We didn’t fight for the women to work in the mining industry in South Africa to be held hostage or kidnapped underground by hooligans,” says Mammburu.
Police spokesperson Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said officers were on standby to monitor any eventualities as the management of the mine is in talks with the union.
This is a developing story…
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