Over 500 mine workers remain underground in South Africa in dispute

By Hassan Isilow

Hundreds of mine workers in South Africa remained underground for a second day on Monday following a dispute between two trade unions at the GoldOne mine near Johannesburg.

Jonathan Hericourt, the mine’s CEO, said in a statement they are concerned about the ongoing sit-in, which has resulted in over 500 employees being held hostage underground, as he described it, with at least nine sustaining injuries.

“We are actively engaging with relevant authorities. We address this situation with the utmost gravity and remain dedicated to resolving it in a manner that prioritizes the well-being and safety of all our employees,” he said.

Workers affiliated to the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) have reportedly taken hostage workers allied with the National Union of Mine Workers (NUM), a rival union, according to Hericourt.

AMCU spokesman Jeff Mphahlele told local broadcaster Newzroom Afrika that workers had staged a sit-in underground and denied their members were holding others hostage.

“AMCU is not holding people ransom underground. This is a night shift that did not come out this morning. They are holding a sit-in,” he said.

He added the 1,870 workers at the GoldOne mine had indicated they want to join AMCU but the gold producer said it only recognizes NUM. The National Union of Mine Workers has appealed to law enforcement agencies to intervene by going underground to arrest those holding their members “hostage.”