THERE may be light at the end of the tunnel for deserted Aurora mine workers at Grootvlei in Springs.
THERE may be light at the end of the tunnel for deserted Aurora mine workers at Grootvlei in Springs.
This follows news that an amount of R50million from Swiss company Global Emerging Markets would soon ease the troubles at the mine.
Yesterday, Enver Motala, one of the liquidators, told Sowetan that things were working out.
"Aurora should get R50million in a week or two. This should enable the mine to do maintenance and pay salaries for the workers."
He said the rest of the money (about R700million) should come in by the end of next month.
This money should be enough to buy the mine, pay the liquidators and restart operations.
"It feels good to hear that there is some light at the end of the tunnel," said miner Khupiso Rateleki.
He complained that there was no communication from the mine owners on the liquidation process.
The mine is owned by Khulubuse Zuma, President Jacob Zuma's nephew, and Zondwa Mandela, former president Nelson Mandela's grandson.
The other good news coming from the mine is that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has raised R1,4million from its members to buy groceries for the mine workers.
Last week Monday, the workers received groceries which included 12,5kg of mealies, two litres of cooking oil, washing powder, bath soup, six candles and a can of fish.
"Our bodies are now getting healthier because we eat something decent," Rateleki said.
The workers have been living on a bowl of cabbage soup and a quarter of bread a day.
NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said the union would periodically supply the workers with groceries from the money raised from its members.
Aurora bought the mine out of the Pamodzi Gold liquidation last year, but when its funding did not come through mining operations stopped.
Workers have not been paid for four months.
Efforts to get comment from Michael Hulley, one of the directors, were unsuccessful yesterday.
GOOD NEWS FOR MINERS
THERE may be light at the end of the tunnel for deserted Aurora mine workers at Grootvlei in Springs.
THERE may be light at the end of the tunnel for deserted Aurora mine workers at Grootvlei in Springs.
This follows news that an amount of R50million from Swiss company Global Emerging Markets would soon ease the troubles at the mine.
Yesterday, Enver Motala, one of the liquidators, told Sowetan that things were working out.
"Aurora should get R50million in a week or two. This should enable the mine to do maintenance and pay salaries for the workers."
He said the rest of the money (about R700million) should come in by the end of next month.
This money should be enough to buy the mine, pay the liquidators and restart operations.
"It feels good to hear that there is some light at the end of the tunnel," said miner Khupiso Rateleki.
He complained that there was no communication from the mine owners on the liquidation process.
The mine is owned by Khulubuse Zuma, President Jacob Zuma's nephew, and Zondwa Mandela, former president Nelson Mandela's grandson.
The other good news coming from the mine is that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has raised R1,4million from its members to buy groceries for the mine workers.
Last week Monday, the workers received groceries which included 12,5kg of mealies, two litres of cooking oil, washing powder, bath soup, six candles and a can of fish.
"Our bodies are now getting healthier because we eat something decent," Rateleki said.
The workers have been living on a bowl of cabbage soup and a quarter of bread a day.
NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said the union would periodically supply the workers with groceries from the money raised from its members.
Aurora bought the mine out of the Pamodzi Gold liquidation last year, but when its funding did not come through mining operations stopped.
Workers have not been paid for four months.
Efforts to get comment from Michael Hulley, one of the directors, were unsuccessful yesterday.