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Hostage Drama at Gold One in Ekurhuleni Comes to an End
The Gold One hostage drama at Modder East mine in Springs, Ekurhuleni, has ended.
According to Gold One’s head of legal services, Ziyaad Hassam, all the underground employees are now above ground.
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
A statement regarding the incident will be released later tonight.
Gold One had reported yesterday that more than 500 of their employees, with 15 injuries, had been held underground against their will since Sunday night, a claim supported by the National Union of Mineworkers.
In contrast, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) denied the allegations, stating that the miners were engaged in a sit-in to demand Amcu’s representation.
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Speaking to Caxton Network News, Hassam confirmed that “the vast majority were held against their will, without food.”
Gold One had already obtained an interdict from the Labour Court on Monday, prohibiting Amcu and its affiliates from participating in any illegal strikes or actions involving the detention and assault of its members.
Further actions were deemed illegal by a second judgment from the Labour Court, which declared Amcu’s conduct unlawful.
Extensive engagements with the SAPS occurred, with the police setting up an operations centre at the mine. Senior commissioners appointed by the CCMA facilitated the conciliation proceedings.
Amcu did not respond to calls for comment, and further information will follow once Gold One’s statement is released.
Source: Ekurhuleni’s Gold One hostage drama has ended
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Picture: Unsplash / Pop & Zebra
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