The families of Gold One workers who have been underground since Sunday have started gathering outside the mine in Springs, on the East Rand, in large numbers.
The mine’s head of legal, Ziyaad Hassam, said there was a group of 41 Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) members allegedly holding more than 500 National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) members hostage at the Gold One Modder East Operations.
However, when Sowetan visited the mine on Tuesday morning, workers said some of their colleagues were doing a sit-in in protest that the company does not want to recognise Amcu as a majority union.
Jane Radebe, the wife of one of the workers who are underground, said the situation was painful and emotional.
“This morning I was at home crying and praying as I wondered how my husband and his colleagues were doing. Our brothers, fathers, sisters and mothers have been underground since Sunday.
“This is also stressful to my children as they see on the news that their father is affected.”
Families of miners 'held hostage by Amcu members' gather outside Gold One mine
Workers have been underground since Sunday
Image: Thapelo Morebudi
The families of Gold One workers who have been underground since Sunday have started gathering outside the mine in Springs, on the East Rand, in large numbers.
The mine’s head of legal, Ziyaad Hassam, said there was a group of 41 Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) members allegedly holding more than 500 National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) members hostage at the Gold One Modder East Operations.
However, when Sowetan visited the mine on Tuesday morning, workers said some of their colleagues were doing a sit-in in protest that the company does not want to recognise Amcu as a majority union.
Jane Radebe, the wife of one of the workers who are underground, said the situation was painful and emotional.
“This morning I was at home crying and praying as I wondered how my husband and his colleagues were doing. Our brothers, fathers, sisters and mothers have been underground since Sunday.
“This is also stressful to my children as they see on the news that their father is affected.”
Amcu denies its members involved in 'hostage situation' at Gold One mine
Radebe said she supported the sit-in, saying the workers were doing it to force Gold One to recognise Amcu as a majority union, so that it can fight to have workers paid better salaries.
Gold One’s chief executive Jon Hericourt said on Monday that the company was profoundly concerned about the ongoing sit-in, which has resulted in over 500 employees being held hostage underground, with several employees sustaining injuries.
“We address this situation with the utmost gravity and remain dedicated to resolving it in a manner that prioritises the well-being and safety of all our employees.
“We are actively engaging with relevant authorities, including the DMRE [department of mineral resources and energy] and the SAPS to ensure the safety and protection of all parties involved,” said Hericourt.
“The situation remains fluid and we will communicate regular updates regarding the progress of this matter to all stakeholders,” he said.
sibanyonim@sowetan.co.za
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