The EFF is to challenge Sibanye Gold's court bid to evict more than 150 poverty-stricken and sickly ex-mineworkers should the company reject the party's settlement offer demand.
Betty Diale, EFF chairwoman in North West, told Sowetan yesterday the party's legal representatives will meet with Sibanye's lawyers next week with the intention of discussing the possibility of an out-of-court settlement that would see the mineworkers reinstated to their old jobs.
It is hoped that this move will also avoid the looming possibility of them being evicted from the company's Circle Labour Hostel in Kroondal, Rustenburg, which has been their home since 2009.
The eviction judgment will be heard at the Land Claims Court in Randburg, Johannesburg, on February 27.
"We have met with the company on two occasions to discuss the reinstatement of the fired workers and that process is still ongoing.
"The second meeting was for the company to give the hostel occupants food parcels for last Christmas, which they never delivered.
"We now hope that they can settle so that these people can go back to work," Diale said.
Yesterday, EFF members, officials from the North West department of rural development and Sibanye management met with the miners at the hostel.
John Mashaba, the department's project manager, said they would do individual interviews and questionnaires with the miners to assess their living conditions and circumstances.
"We will then compile a report which will be presented to the court before the eviction hearings later this month. We hope that information will help the court make a better decision with a full understanding of the miners' situation. Maybe it will help to evade the evictions."
Sibanye's Charles Kendell who was at the meeting, did not want to comment.
The 167 former Murray & Roberts Cementation workers have been living at the crowded Circle Labour Hostel since 2009 when the company fired them for taking part in an illegal strike.
The company won the labour disputeand evicted them. The eviction was fought in court and an order was made for the company to provide its ex-employees with alternative accommodation.
Murray & Roberts was sold to Aquarius Platinum Mines, which was later bought by Sibanye.
Since their expulsion, the occupants, who are mostly from neighbouring countries, have been living in squalor and poverty. They hunt wild animals for food.
EFF to challenge Sibanye bid to evict miners from hostel
The EFF is to challenge Sibanye Gold's court bid to evict more than 150 poverty-stricken and sickly ex-mineworkers should the company reject the party's settlement offer demand.
Betty Diale, EFF chairwoman in North West, told Sowetan yesterday the party's legal representatives will meet with Sibanye's lawyers next week with the intention of discussing the possibility of an out-of-court settlement that would see the mineworkers reinstated to their old jobs.
It is hoped that this move will also avoid the looming possibility of them being evicted from the company's Circle Labour Hostel in Kroondal, Rustenburg, which has been their home since 2009.
The eviction judgment will be heard at the Land Claims Court in Randburg, Johannesburg, on February 27.
"We have met with the company on two occasions to discuss the reinstatement of the fired workers and that process is still ongoing.
"The second meeting was for the company to give the hostel occupants food parcels for last Christmas, which they never delivered.
"We now hope that they can settle so that these people can go back to work," Diale said.
Yesterday, EFF members, officials from the North West department of rural development and Sibanye management met with the miners at the hostel.
John Mashaba, the department's project manager, said they would do individual interviews and questionnaires with the miners to assess their living conditions and circumstances.
"We will then compile a report which will be presented to the court before the eviction hearings later this month. We hope that information will help the court make a better decision with a full understanding of the miners' situation. Maybe it will help to evade the evictions."
Sibanye's Charles Kendell who was at the meeting, did not want to comment.
The 167 former Murray & Roberts Cementation workers have been living at the crowded Circle Labour Hostel since 2009 when the company fired them for taking part in an illegal strike.
The company won the labour disputeand evicted them. The eviction was fought in court and an order was made for the company to provide its ex-employees with alternative accommodation.
Murray & Roberts was sold to Aquarius Platinum Mines, which was later bought by Sibanye.
Since their expulsion, the occupants, who are mostly from neighbouring countries, have been living in squalor and poverty. They hunt wild animals for food.
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