AURORA has started paying its employees salaries owed for almost a year, but that is cold comfort for some former miners who say the payments will not fix the damage done.
Last week the Department of Labour said 240 miners had received their outstanding salaries after Aurora mine owners Khulubuse Zuma and Zondwa Mandela deposited R2,4 million with the department.
"They can pay me but I'm never going back to work there. They put me through so much pain and suffering. As we speak I can't go home to Lesotho to spend Christmas with my family because I have no money," miner Khupiso Rateleki said yesterday.
Rateleki, who had worked for the Grootvlei mine since 2007 and is owed R1200 by the company, said he went to the offices last week but came back empty-handed.
"They said they did not know what was happening with my money and told me to come back on Monday. The problem is I have already found another job in Limpopo and have to start immediately. I don't even have money to go to Grootvlei," he said.
Another miner, Mxokozeli Tomzana, said he had received his money but was more concerned about the future.
"We are just waiting to see what will happen next but all we want are jobs. They have not said anything about that," he said.
"Many have already gone back home. They can't stay here with no income. I'm gong to stay and see what happens."
Aurora is at present running Pamodzi Gold mine in Orkney and Springs, after making a bid to buy it in October 2009.
On Friday the Aurora group was given more time by the high court in Pretoria to produce funding guarantees to buy the financially stricken Pamodzi Gold mine.
"The court has given them an extension until February 28. By then the guarantees are going to be issued by a Chinese company," one of the joint liquidators, Enver Motala, said.
The judge had to decide on Friday if final liquidation should go ahead or if Aurora should be given more time to produce funding guarantees.
Motala said the judge was given a letter from the bankers of the Chinese company on Friday, saying that funding had been issued.
Aurora pays salaries to 240
AURORA has started paying its employees salaries owed for almost a year, but that is cold comfort for some former miners who say the payments will not fix the damage done.
Last week the Department of Labour said 240 miners had received their outstanding salaries after Aurora mine owners Khulubuse Zuma and Zondwa Mandela deposited R2,4 million with the department.
"They can pay me but I'm never going back to work there. They put me through so much pain and suffering. As we speak I can't go home to Lesotho to spend Christmas with my family because I have no money," miner Khupiso Rateleki said yesterday.
Rateleki, who had worked for the Grootvlei mine since 2007 and is owed R1200 by the company, said he went to the offices last week but came back empty-handed.
"They said they did not know what was happening with my money and told me to come back on Monday. The problem is I have already found another job in Limpopo and have to start immediately. I don't even have money to go to Grootvlei," he said.
Another miner, Mxokozeli Tomzana, said he had received his money but was more concerned about the future.
"We are just waiting to see what will happen next but all we want are jobs. They have not said anything about that," he said.
"Many have already gone back home. They can't stay here with no income. I'm gong to stay and see what happens."
Aurora is at present running Pamodzi Gold mine in Orkney and Springs, after making a bid to buy it in October 2009.
On Friday the Aurora group was given more time by the high court in Pretoria to produce funding guarantees to buy the financially stricken Pamodzi Gold mine.
"The court has given them an extension until February 28. By then the guarantees are going to be issued by a Chinese company," one of the joint liquidators, Enver Motala, said.
The judge had to decide on Friday if final liquidation should go ahead or if Aurora should be given more time to produce funding guarantees.
Motala said the judge was given a letter from the bankers of the Chinese company on Friday, saying that funding had been issued.
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