Gold One Mine AMCU miners demand mine halts dismissals
Gold One Mine head of legal Ziyaad Hassam confirmed that 72 miners have been dismissed.
Kwatsaduza – To stop Gold One Mine from dismissing more striking miners, a group of over 400 miners are carrying out an illegal underground strike.
Their actions turned fruitless after a four-day sit-in with no food but only water and medical supplies provided by the mine.
On Monday morning, the miners called off the strike. Seven miners were injured, while three others sustained serious head injuries and had to be taken to hospital for medical attention.
Those who were injured refused to speak to the police or open criminal cases against those who assaulted them.
On Friday morning, miners who reported for night duty refused to resurface in a bid to get the mine to address their grievances. Operations at the mine have been suspended since Friday morning.
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A representative from AMCU, Thembisile Njisane, said though the mine has not entertained their grievances during the sit-in, they are going to continue striking until they reinstate the dismissed miners and lift the suspensions.
“All we want is an opportunity to elect a union of our choice to represent our rights and needs as employees.
“The mine is not taking us seriously and is dragging its feet to set a date for the elections,” he added.
Another representative, Hendrick Nchabeleng, said they were demanding mine management to address them and hear their grievances.
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“We cannot have employees dismissed for raising their grievances through a strike and underground sit-in. That is not fair labour practice.
“Many of the dismissed miners are charged for participating in the first underground sit-in of October,” he said.
Gold One Mine’s head of legal, Ziyaad Hassam, said the mine will not reverse its decision to dismiss the miners.
“We are encouraging those who are disgruntled to appeal the ruling or take it to the CCMA and to use the correct channels to raise their grievances.
“The mine doesn’t encourage the illegal protest. We open criminal cases against those who held the other miners hostage,” he said.
