A group of 15 mineworkers is holding more than 400 workers hostage at the Gold One Modder East Operations mine in Springs, east of Johannesburg.
Gauteng police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili was quoted in the media saying about 15 miners armed with “traditional weapons” are holding others against their will.
Muridili said police can confirm that a hostage situation is unfolding, noting that out of the 540 miners stuck underground since Sunday, only 107 have resurfaced.
“At this stage, we can confirm that 107 miners managed to force their way out and return to the surface this morning,” Muridili said
“They were immediately attended to by the paramedics on site. The number given is 540 underground.”
Paramedics, security officer stuck underground
She said two paramedics and a security officer employed by the mine are also stuck underground, after having joined the miners with the aim of assisting an injured person.
“Yesterday [Tuesday], we started treating it as a hostage situation and not as an alleged hostage situation.
“The police and other stakeholders including crime intelligence detectives have established a joint operational centre with security management, other role players and hostage negotiators to deal with any eventuality.”
She said some of the 107 miners who resurfaced have since given statements to police.
“With this morning’s developments that the 107 came out, some gave interviews and statements to police and said they were held against their will.
“They say a group of 15 or so miners held them against their will and that they [hostage takers] have traditional weapons.”
Muridili said police cannot confirm which workers’ union the hostage takers belong to. “Our priority is to get our plan into place and resolve the situation without any fatalities.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Gold One spokesperson and head of legal Ziyaad Hassam said a group of miners started emerging at about 7am, noting that they looked tired and hungry.
Earlier this week, it was reported that members belonging to the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) held over 500 miners hostage underground.
The leadership of Amcu has since dismissed reports that its members have a hand in the hostage situation.
