LOW’S CREEK – Solidarity has no representation as a union at Lily Mine. Vantage Goldfields says this is why it was denied access to the mine during rescue operations to retrieve the container which disappeared into a massive sinkhole on February 5.
Miners Ms Pretty Nkambule, Ms Yvonne Mnisi and Mr Solomon Nyerende were inside this lamp room and have been trapped underground since.
Lowvelder reported on Friday that Solidarity claimed to have information concerning the cause the collapse. It said it had tried on numerous occasions to have discussions with Vantage Goldfields, but to no avail.
Also read: Is human error behind the collapse at Lily Mine?
On Wednesday Solidarity general secretary, Mr Gideon du Plessis, said the time had come to bring the guilty parties who were directly responsible for the disaster and the loss of precious lives to book. He added that Solidarity had “highly confidential information regarding the cause of the disaster which it has obtained in a reliable manner”.
Solidarity scheduled a media conference for Thursday morning during which the union would reveal the information, but it was cancelled on Wednesday night.
Later on Thursday Solidarity released a statement according to which it would only disclose this confidential information to the Department of Mineral Resources and mine management, due to the “sensitivity of the information and the crucial phase within which the investigation is currently”.
Lowvelder approached Vantage Goldfields CEO, Mr Mike McChesney, for comment but only received it after having gone to print last Thursday.
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He said Solidarity’s requests for access to Lily Mine had been denied by management, “as was the case with all other parties who have no official connection to the mine”.
“Mine management was consistent in applying this principle, given that all affected parties were provided access to the mine during the rescue and recovery operations.”
He said Solidarity’s planned media briefing to discuss the possible reasons for the collapse, was despite the fact that it was sub judice and that the official investigation still had to run its course.
“The law provides for a full investigation into cases such as the Lily incident and Solidarity is welcome to provide their ‘findings’ during this process.” He added that he had had a meeting with Du Plessis on Thursday and it had been an open and transparent discussion.
