THE underground sit-in at Bafokeng Rasimone Impala Platinum in Rustenburg has been called off.
Mineworkers had staged a sit-in on Monday, 18 December over pension fund payouts, the taxation of bonuses and profit-share incentives.
Many of the miners said they were unhappy that their demands were not answered to, but had resurfaced for health reasons. On Wednesday afternoon, 20 December all the workers safely returned to the surface.
Worker Mphatsoe Mphatsoe said he was disappointed that they could not reach an agreement. But he was hoping mine management would bring a positive outcome from engagements which would take place moving forward.
"Some of the workers are on chronic medication and started getting weak," he said.
He said there was no ventilation underground.
"We haven’t eaten for the past three days."
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Another worker, Lucky Ndlovu said he started feeling dizzy and had body pains due to sleeping on the rocks.
"I am tired, hungry and feel weak," he said.
He said they resurfaced because an official from management allegedly said they would engage with them once they returned to the surface, citing it wasn't safe for management to go underground.
When asked about the alleged hostage situation, worker Zola Mnqanqeni said some of them knew but others were not aware.
"Most of the workers who were underground were in agreement with the sit-in. We weren't forced," he said.
He said NUM had failed them as members, and they'd lost confidence in their leadership going forward.
Mmarapelang Sello, who had been camping outside the mine since Tuesday, 19 December waiting for her husband said she was extremely happy that he was safe and returning home.
"He looks weak but I'm sure he'll recover once he has eaten," she said.
Impala spokesman Johan Theron confirmed that all the employees who were engaged in an illegal and unprotected underground Protest at Impala Bafokeng, without the support of the representative union, have exited the underground workings and returned safely to the surface.
Johan said Impala is thankful for the support received during this protest action and the assistance provided in securing the safe return of employees to surface.
He further emphasised commitment to constructive and mutually respectful employee engagement.
"Our focus now shifts to safely completing the planned operational shutdown at Impala Bafokeng ahead of the upcoming Christmas break, instituting required disciplinary processes, and securing the sustainability of the operation amid the low metal price environment," he said.
