"The workers vow to stay underground until the Samancor management meets their demands, which include a R12,500 basic salary," said committee spokesman Mametlwe Sebei.

In a statement headlined, "Occupation of the mine in demand of a R12,500 basic salary", Sebei said about 400 miners have been underground with no food or water since Thursday.

He claimed that the ventilation had been switched off.

"The mine management has... closed the mine's water supply, in an apparent move to starve and dry (sic) out the workers... we condemn this stance taken by management and urge them to go underground to table an offer."

He said the workers were also upset because the mine would not allow them to hold big gatherings.

"Yesterday, these workers decided to defy that and decided to gather underground at the mine."

Sebei said the organisation would be mobilising community members to gather in the afternoon and demand that the miners be given food and water.

The workers at the chrome mine have vowed to stay underground until management meets their demands, said Sebei.

Additional to the R12,500 demand, workers also wanted a R1500 sleep-out allowance and a R1500 underground allowance.

Samancor was not immediately available to comment on the matter.

Comments

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Tue May 21 18:42:41 SAST 2013 ::

Sep 28, 2012

Mdeeva

Ao come on sowetan same news everyday, we are tired of this mining saga re e utlwile MAN
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Sep 28, 2012

tibza

I think the solution to this mine protest and strikes is for government to intervene by making a ruling to all mines in RSA that each and everyone get R12.500 because really we can't afford to have this popcorn strikes each and everyday that popout everywhere....Zuma makes as if things are ok whereas we have a crisis in our mines that need special attention from the government
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Sep 28, 2012

LeparaThePresident

Now this is a strike that does not endander other people, give those men R12,500/
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Sep 28, 2012

9janavy

WFT??? Don't they know that prolonged exposure to impure air underground without coming up for fresh oxygen could kill them?
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Sep 28, 2012

MommaC

So they want R15,500 a month?
Holy craaaap. Why bother getting an education?
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Sep 28, 2012

DA-DBN-GUY

How original! All of a sudden EVERYONE wants R12500. Must be a magical number.
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Sep 28, 2012

Bygonz-Kunsmis

These illiterate Zumologists want to earn more than teachers who hold diplomas and degrees , and even the police - no wonder why they shoot them . Lonmin created the precedence the whole industry , if not the whole country will regret .
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