Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) members were reportedly barred from entering the Gold One Mine premises in Springs, Ekurhuleni, on Tuesday morning.

This follows the three-day ‘sit-in’ that underground miners staged last week, demanding that the mine acknowledge Amcu as a union with majority members to represent the miners.

After the ‘sit-in’ ended, Amcu members were told to await communication on when to return to work.

While they were waiting for communication from the mine, Amcu delegate Musa Khalipha claims Gold One allegedly sent suspension letters to 32 miners on Tuesday.

Those who received the letters were believed to be the instigators of the ‘sit-in’.

In a turn of events, many miners received communication from the mine informing them to return to work on the same day.

However, when they reported for duty, they were surprised to learn that their entrance tags were disabled.

“The workers were denied access to the mine,” says Khalipha.

Miners were allegedly left to brave the cold and stormy weather in long queues, awaiting further correspondence from the mine.

A suspended miner, Palesa Motloung, says an SMS was reportedly sent to the miners that read: “The process of resuming normal work has begun. It is not safe to call everyone at the same time, so people are being called in groups. The situation at the entrance is caused by people who came even when they had not received an SMS to return.”

This morning, more workers had still not been granted access to the mine.

Gold One Mine spokesperson Chris Nchabeleng says the mine cannot comment presently but will release a statement later in the week.

Unconfirmed reports in several publications state that miners will vote on union representation.