The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) confirmed that 107 miners had returned to the surface and were undergoing medical check-ups. More than 500 miners had initially failed to emerge at the end of their night shift, with the NUM alleging that they were being “held hostage” by the rival Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU). Management at the mine also supported the claim that the workers were being held against their will.
However, the AMCU disputed the allegations, contending that the miners were staging a “sit-in” protest. The AMCU claims that the majority of miners have joined their union but have not yet received official recognition, leading to the protest.
Jon Hericourt, CEO of New Kleinfontein Goldmine, estimated that 562 mineworkers were underground, and reported that 15 miners had been injured in scuffles. Police confirmed that some miners had stated in interviews that they were “held against their will” and had managed to escape from their captors.
The dispute underscores the ongoing tensions between rival labor unions in South Africa’s mining sector. The NUM is the only officially recognized union at the Gold One mine, while the AMCU is seeking official recognition.
This incident has highlighted the challenges faced by mineworkers and the complexities of labor relations in South Africa’s mining industry.
Source: Al Jazeera