GOLD One Mine workers have resurfaced from underground.
A total of 447 workers had staged a sit-in underground in Springs, Ekurhuleni since Thursday, 7 December.
The workers told Daily Sun on Monday, 11 December, that this was not a hostage but a sit-in.
They said they decided to emerge from underground because some of their colleagues were suffering and collapsed.
Thembisile Njisane said they volunteered to participate in the sit-in to demand attention from their employers.
"We didn't get food and we kept ourselves going by singing. We decided to come out underground because some of the colleagues were collapsing due to hunger and others were starting to get sick," said Njisane.
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He said they want the company to bring back their dismissed and suspended colleagues back to work.
Another mine worker, Vuyolwethu Mankwenta, said he last ate food on Thursday.
"It was difficult underground. We had no food. We only drank water. We couldn't take it anymore because of hunger, and that's why we decided to come out," said Vuyolwethu.
He said they want Amcu to take over.
Gold One Mine head of legal, Ziyaad Hassam, said the mine will not reverse its decision of dismissing mine workers who participated in the sit-in which happened in October.
"The mine workers who have been dismissed have a right to appeal," said Ziyaad.
