THE month-long Impala Mine strike in Rustenburg in North West has left many of its employees in a dire straits.
About R2-billion was reportedly lost because of the illegal strike. As a result, employees have not been paid since January.
The strike was sparked by an 18% pay increase for all employees except rock drill operators.
Themba Mpongolwane, a rock drill operator, has been at the mine for 13 years and has been affected by the no pay.
Mpongolwane lives in Luka village, about 2km from shaft 6, where the violent protests between miners and the police erupted.
He earns about R4000 a month, which he said was not nearly enough to support his family.
"I have a wife and five children and I find it very difficult to support them on such a small salary," he said.
After the non-payment of salaries things had become even more difficult for him than before since he had paid his R300 rent a month in advance," he said.
Mpongolwane described his daily gruelling routine as a rock drill operator.
"I wake up at three o'clock in the morning because my shift starts at 5.30am,," he said.
"I then get into a cage that transports us underground - about 2km down."
When he arrives there he still has about a kilometre to walk before he can actually begin his work.
Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said during his visit to the mine that rock drill operators faced greater risks at the mine than any of the other employees.
Mpongolwane agreed, saying even the slightest mistake could lead to death.
"After drilling the rock, explosives are inserted into the hole, which will then be used to blow the rock," he explained.
"But they don't always go off and that puts us in serious danger. I could be drilling and mistakenly drill into the explosive, which will make it explode."
He also said it took a strong-willed person to work under those conditions.
"It is extremely hot underground and there is smoke and dust when you are busy working, which could result in sickness," he said.
Mpongolwane also said to top everything they were sometimes required to do a job they were not trained for.
"If there is a skelm (explosive that didn't go off), it's the miner's duty to remove it. Only people with blasting certificates can do that, yet they want us to do it," he said.
"If you refuse, they say you don't want to work, but if you get injured you won't be compensated because management will say you shouldn't have been doing that job in the first place."
The miners are demanding a minimum wage of R9000.
Rock driller's struggle to survive
THE month-long Impala Mine strike in Rustenburg in North West has left many of its employees in a dire straits.
About R2-billion was reportedly lost because of the illegal strike. As a result, employees have not been paid since January.
The strike was sparked by an 18% pay increase for all employees except rock drill operators.
Themba Mpongolwane, a rock drill operator, has been at the mine for 13 years and has been affected by the no pay.
Mpongolwane lives in Luka village, about 2km from shaft 6, where the violent protests between miners and the police erupted.
He earns about R4000 a month, which he said was not nearly enough to support his family.
"I have a wife and five children and I find it very difficult to support them on such a small salary," he said.
After the non-payment of salaries things had become even more difficult for him than before since he had paid his R300 rent a month in advance," he said.
Mpongolwane described his daily gruelling routine as a rock drill operator.
"I wake up at three o'clock in the morning because my shift starts at 5.30am,," he said.
"I then get into a cage that transports us underground - about 2km down."
When he arrives there he still has about a kilometre to walk before he can actually begin his work.
Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said during his visit to the mine that rock drill operators faced greater risks at the mine than any of the other employees.
Mpongolwane agreed, saying even the slightest mistake could lead to death.
"After drilling the rock, explosives are inserted into the hole, which will then be used to blow the rock," he explained.
"But they don't always go off and that puts us in serious danger. I could be drilling and mistakenly drill into the explosive, which will make it explode."
He also said it took a strong-willed person to work under those conditions.
"It is extremely hot underground and there is smoke and dust when you are busy working, which could result in sickness," he said.
Mpongolwane also said to top everything they were sometimes required to do a job they were not trained for.
"If there is a skelm (explosive that didn't go off), it's the miner's duty to remove it. Only people with blasting certificates can do that, yet they want us to do it," he said.
"If you refuse, they say you don't want to work, but if you get injured you won't be compensated because management will say you shouldn't have been doing that job in the first place."
The miners are demanding a minimum wage of R9000.
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