The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) has dismissed media reports that its members have held more than 500 miners hostage at a mine in Springs on the East Rand.
Speaking to Newzroom Afrika during an interview on Monday, Amcu general secretary Jeff Mphahlele said hundreds of mineworkers refused to come out of the GoldOne-East Modderfontein mine after they finished their nightshift duty on Monday morning.
Amcu not responsible for hostage
“Let me correct one thing, it is not correct that Amcu is holding people at ransom underground or hostage. This is a night shift that did not come out completely,” he said.
“The night shift that was supposed to knock off this morning decided to stay underground. So, to say it is Amcu holding people underground is not correct. It is not true.”
Mphahlele said about 1 700 workers of the mine have indicated their interest to join Amcu.
The mine currently employs a total of 1 870 workers.
“A total of 1 700 members have indicated that they want to join Amcu.
“We have submitted their stop-order forms but this mine has been protecting one union, the NUM [National Union of Mineworkers].
“Our request [for the miners to join Amcu] has not been granted,” said Mphahlele.
Request to meet miners underground
Mphahlele added that he does not know if the miners who want to come out from underground are allowed to do so.
He said the mine management is to blame for the miners remaining underground.
“We fully understand the conditions underground. They are treacherous and it is not a place to stay in.
“We asked the management that we should go underground and go and hear what the concerns of the miners are underground, but they [mine management] are refusing.
“We want a solution to this problem.
“The management has barred us as a union from representing our members.”
