Cosatu brings its demands to Lily Mine
Cosatu said if the three trapped workers are not recovered in three days, starting from Monday, Lily Mine must be permanently shut down.
Hundreds of people joined the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and its affiliate union – National Union of Mineworkers (Num) – on Sunday as they marched to Lily Mine to demand that the mine management prioritise the recovery of the three workers, Pretty Mabuza, Yvonne Mnisi and Solomon Nyerende, who have been trapped underground since February 5.
The three-kilometre march started at Low’s Creek filling station and continued to Lily Mine’s offices.
Several delegates both from the workers unions and government attended the event.
These included Num president Piet Matosa, Num deputy president Joseph Montisetsi, and Cosatu deputy general secretary Solly Phetoe.
On the political front, among those who attended the march was Majikiza Magagula, Umjindi-Mbombela ANC mobiliser, Ngrayi Ngwenya, ANC Ehlanzeni regional chairman, Thandi Shongwe, Speaker of the Mpumalanga legislature, Momotho Thumbathi, ANC regional treasurer and Majaheni Nyalunga, ANC regional executive committee member.
Delivering the memorandum of demands to Lily Mine management, which was represented by Bongani Rantho, Matosa said the operation of an inclined shaft to rescue the three trapped workers must start within three days after receiving the memorandum.
He also demanded that all Lily Mine workers be paid their full outstanding salaries with immediate effect.
He said the mine was doing nothing for the locals and that was one of the main reasons Num was opposing it be placed on business rescue administration.
“Lily Mine must also stop all activities until it rescues the three trapped workers underground, so that their families can find closure.
We call upon all the mining companies to invest more money in protecting the lives of the workers instead of focusing on profit. Mineworkers cannot be sacrificed for profit. We also call on mineworkers to refuse to work in dangerous conditions,” continued Matosa.
He said Num expects a response from the mine’s management within seven working days from Monday.
Manager at the mine, Bongani Rantho said it has always been and is still its intention to rescue and recover the three workers.
“The investment in Vantage Goldfields by AfroCan and indirectly in Lily Mine and other borrowings will be used to pay outstanding remuneration when the monies are available and provided,” said Rantho.
He said after three attempts during February, rescue and recovery were aborted as the mine was declared unsafe and it would endanger the lives of additional personnel. He said this decision was made collectively with mining experts, unions and officials as well as mine management.
“A new access decline or entrance needs to be developed and this will cost in the region of R200 million, taking approximately six to eight months to complete. During this time no gold production will take place. The decline has been planned in such a manner that it is a safe access to the area where the container is believed to be. A team will then be deployed to recover it in safe working conditions,” continued Rantho.
Cosatu said if the three trapped workers are not recovered in three days, starting from Monday, Lily Mine must be permanently shut down.
