Gold One head of legal services Ziyaad Hassam has confirmed that all employees from their Modder East mine in Springs, Ekurhuleni, are back above ground.

Hassam adds that a statement on the matter will be released later tonight.

In a statement published yesterday, Gold One said more than 500 of their employees, of which 15 were injured, had been held underground against their will since Sunday night.

This was echoed by the National Union of Mineworkers, but the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) reportedly denied this, saying the miners were staging a sit-in because they want Amcu to represent them, reported the Springs Advertiser yesterday.

Speaking to Caxton Network News late this afternoon, Hassam confirmed: “The vast majority were held against their will, without food.”

Gold One released a statement on Monday to say that it had been granted an interdict at the Labour Court prohibiting Amca and its affiliates from ‘engaging in any illegal strikes or any conduct involving the detention and assault of its members’.

Yesterday, Gold One said it has obtained a second judgment from the Labour Court, declaring AMCU’s conduct illegal. “Their continued actions are unlawful and in contempt of two court orders. We have also held extensive engagements with the SAPS, who have set up an operations centre at the mine and have been locked in conciliation proceedings facilitated by senior commissioners appointed by the CCMA.”

Amcu did not answer its phones when called for comment.

A follow-up will be done once Gold One’s statement has been released.

Watch:

A group of mineworkers that had apparently staged a protest underground at the Modder East Gold One mine in Springs come out singing. They say they want to tell the truth.

Tune into Newzroom Afrika DStv channel 405 for more, @sholwana_z has the details. pic.twitter.com/6w6nH8EwA9

— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) October 25, 2023

A supporter throws food to the workers that have been in the GoldOne mine since Sunday. #Goldonemine ⁦@TheCitizen_News⁩ pic.twitter.com/3hXp0YXEWS

— Neil McCartney (@NeilMcCartney) October 25, 2023

Economist Dr Neva Makgetla explains to Stephen Grootes why there is contestations between different unions as Amcu and NUM play blame game following the underground “sit in/hostage” situation at the the Modder East Mine in Springs.

Watch: https://t.co/9K1b9uFoSY#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/8Kbr4iuXSe

— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) October 25, 2023