Springs – An urgent meeting is expected to be held Tuesday morning to free more than 540 mineworkers who remain stuck underground at GoldOne-Modder East mine, amid a battle between powerful unions and management.
The dire situation has been linked to the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) being on a major membership recruitment drive at the mine, where the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is the dominant union.
The mineworkers went underground on Sunday and have not been able to return to the surface.
Democratic Alliance (DA) Constituency Head for Springs, Brakpan, and Nigel, Ashor Sarupen said: “I am deeply concerned and appalled by the ongoing hostage situation at the GoldOne-Modder East mine, where approximately 543 miners are allegedly being held against their will”.
AMCU insists management is dilly-dallying about giving it “organisational rights” that would enable it to collect membership fees from workers through bank stop orders.
The DA said for a town built on mining, the safety and well-being of the mining community in Springs were critical, and all acts that threatened the lives and security of these miners were unacceptable.
“We call for the immediate and safe release of all miners involved in this situation,” said Sarupen.
“It is crucial that those responsible for this illegal and dangerous act be held accountable.
“We expect law enforcement agencies to act swiftly in investigating and bringing those behind this incident to justice.
“We also call upon AMCU to cooperate fully with law enforcement authorities and facilitate the safe release of the miners.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the miners who are currently being held underground, as well as their families who are undoubtedly anxious about their loved ones’ safety.”
The DA expressed gratitude to the medics and first responders who are working tirelessly to ensure the injured receive the necessary medical attention.
However, AMCU on Tuesday denied the workers were being held underground against their will.
AMCU said mine management was playing it against NUM.
A meeting has been called for this morning to try and resolve the unfolding crisis underground where conditions are known to be treacherous.
On Monday AMCU President Joseph Mathunjwa denied that the mineworkers were being held underground against their will.
However, NUM said it can confirm that the mineworkers are being held hostage underground at Gold One Mine in Springs.
Narrating events leading to the situation NUM ön Monday said: The hostage situation started last night when workers reported for a night shift underground and they were prevented from coming back to the surface this morning.
“Nine NUM members got injured after they were assaulted by the hooligans who were preventing them from coming to the surface,” the union said in a statement.
“They are still preventing them from coming to the surface. NUM is also worried that there are a lot of women who are being held hostage underground.
“This is unacceptable. It was only the NUM that fought for women to work in the mining industry in South Africa.
“We didn’t fight for the women to work in the mining industry in South Africa to be held hostage or kidnapped underground by hooligans.”
NUM called on law enforcement agencies in South Africa to intervene and go underground and “arrest the hooligans who are holding our members against their will”.
