THE situation at Gold One Mine in Springs, Ekurhuleni has turned into hostage drama.
This is according to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe.
In a video, Mantashe reported that three people who are part of a sit-in at the mine were assaulted.
“We are dealing with the situation of trying to resolve a sit-in where we would deal with the demands of the workers and understand why they are having a sit-in."
“Today, on 10 December, the situation changed dramatically, it became a hostage drama in the sense that three people came out underground heavily beaten and once you begin to beat people up it means they were held underground against their will and therefore it should be dealt with as an offence that requires police intervention,” said Mantashe.
Daily Sun has reported more than 400 workers who worked the night shift on Thursday, 7 December are in support of the workers who were dismissed by the mine.
The night shift team was supposed to finish their shift on Friday, 8 December, but they remained underground.
It's alleged that the underground workers are in support of the 70 workers who were dismissed. It has been now three days with the workers still underground.
The workers, who picketed outside the mine on Sunday, 10 December, said they want the company to reinstate the workers who were dismissed and cancel all the suspension letters that they were given.
One of the workers, Lesiba Leso said they will continue to support the workers who are still underground.
"The company should listen to workers' demands and stop the disciplinary hearings. We want all the people who have been dismissed to be reinstated. All these people have families to support, they need to be given their jobs back," he said.
Another worker, Lungile Mangena said she was supposed to be among the workers who are still underground.
"I'm part of the shift team that is underground. I didn't go to work on Thursday, 7 December because I received an SMS from employers stating that I should attend a disciplinary hearing on Friday, 8 December," said Lungile.
She said she's worried she might lose her job.
"I didn't go to the hearing on Friday because there was no transport to the mine offices in Grootvlei in Springs. I'm worried I will lose my job. All those who went to the disciplinary hearings have been dismissed," said Lungile.
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She said the workers were dismissed after they took part in the alleged hostage incident which happened in October, where workers spent three days underground.
The workers wanted the company to recognize Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union as their new union. The workers are still members of National Union of Mineworkers.
Mine management has labeled the incident as a "hostage".
The head of legal in the mine, Ziyaad Hassam, said workers were held against their will. He said they are worried that the situation might get worse.
"There is no communication with the workers held underground because the lines have been disconnected. Some of the workers held underground are contractors who are not affiliated with any unions," said Hassam.
