PRINCE Radebe, a Gold Mine worker and NUM shop steward, fears for his life.
This comes after Prince escaped death together with his fiancee, her brother, and another female colleague outside the mine when they were allegedly attacked by Amcu members.
Prince’s Hyundai 120 was allegedly set alight by Amcu members on Sunday, 12 November in Springs, Ekurhuleni.
The distressed Prince said he was accompanied by one of his colleagues, a worker in the maintenance department who is part of the essential workers at the mine.
He said he was approached by a man who was wearing a balaclava at the nearby shopping complex.
“I had to run for my dear life. I hid in the tree at one of my colleagues' houses. I'm glad they didn't see me. When I think of what has happened, I feel like crying because I nearly lost my life,"
He said he watched helplessly far away as his car was allegedly torched by Amcu members.
“I’m so hurt but I’m thankful I survived the attack. My life is important.
“I’m a member of NUM, and that's my choice. No one is allowed to force me to join the other union.”
He said he was scared that he might be attacked again.
The situation remains tense outside the mine. On Monday, 13 November, cops opened fire at protesting Amcu members who demanded to be recognised.
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The miners threw petrol bombs at the cops, which failed to explode.
Amcu central Gauteng secretary, Tladi Mokwena denied the allegations that their members had torched Prince's car.
Tladi said: “NUM is the only recognised union at the mine. It can’t be correct to say Amcu members torched the car and attacked people in their homes. We have workers who have demonstrated interest in joining Amcu.”
NUM spokesman Livhuwani Mammburu confirmed Prince was their shop steward in the mine.
Mammburu said some of their members were visited by heavily armed men in their homes.
“Our members are living in fear because of such acts, and they are afraid of going to work.
“The attack of Radebe and the three others has shocked us. We thought they were burnt inside the car, we are relieved that they escaped with their lives,” he said.
Gold One mine legal Ziyaad Hassam said underground operations underground have been suspended.
He said only care and maintenance workers were allowed to report for duty.
Gauteng police spokeswoman Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said the Public Order Policing police together with local police and Ekurhuleni Metro cops were monitoring the protests by mine workers at One Gold Mine in Springs.
She said: “So far 11 people have been arrested for public violence and malicious damage to property after one vehicle was torched.
“The situation is currently calm, and the police will continue to maintain a high presence in that area after they had to use rubber bullets to disperse the crowd,”
