THE number of mineworkers fired at Gold One Mine in Springs, Ekurhuleni has increased from 401 to 445.
National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) spokesman Livhuwani Mamburu confirmed this.
He said on Tuesday, 9 January, NUM was informed by the mine management about the latest development during a meeting at Grootvlei in Springs.
Mamburu said all the workers who have been dismissed participated in the underground strike in 2023.
He said the mine management told NUM that 104 mineworkers who participated in the unlawful strike on the surface will face a disciplinary hearing this week.
“We are not happy with how the management took a blanket approach and dismissed 445 workers," he said.
"Some of our members who participated in that hostage situation underground were forced against their will, and now they find themselves being dismissed."
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Livhuwani said NUM will represent their members who were unfairly dismissed and forced to take part in the hostage situation.
“NUM is going to represent them in the appeal for dismissal which will begin next week,” said Mamburu.
The workers were allegedly dismissed via SMS, while others received suspension messages.
The mine has been facing troubles since October 2023, when it was affected by protests, hostage drama, the assault of workers, and sit-ins underground.
The workers demanded the company recognise the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) as their new union.
Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Gauteng has condemned the hasty, unwarranted, and unjustified dismissal of workers and the suspension of employees by Gold One Mine, Modder East in Springs Ekurhuleni.
EFF provincial spokesman Dumisani Baleni said the action is a senseless attempt to find an easy way out of a long-standing dispute.
"This reckless and insensitive decision follows a series of protests and sit-ins by mine workers in disputes related to recognition rights for Amcu and the setting aside of a closed shop agreement signed between NUM and the company aimed at preventing other unions from representing workers."
He said Gold One Mine, like many other mining companies, continues to display arrogance because it enjoys excessive authority over workers and is almost always unregulated by the government.
"The EFF calls for the reinstatement of these men and women who bear the responsibility to support their families.
"We call on Gold One and all other parties involved to find a solution that does not involve the expulsion and relegation of over 400 breadwinners in the face of a desperate economic situation in the country.
"The EFF leadership will also approach all affected parties to find an agreeable solution to the matter," said Baleni.
Daily Sun could not get a comment from Gold One Mine's head of legal, Ziyaad Hassam, whose phone rang unanswered.
