Hostage drama at Springs gold mine enters third day amid labour dispute
More than 500 mineworkers have not resurfaced from underground since Sunday, amid a tense labour dispute.
JOHANNESBURG - The hostage drama at the GoldOne Modder East mine in Springs has entered its third day.
More than 500 mineworkers have not resurfaced from underground since Sunday, amid a tense labour dispute.
Two trade unions, Amcu and NUM, are fighting it out over organising rights at the gold mine.
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Scores of police and private security are still on site amid negotiations to resolve the impasse.
Police had originally hatched a tactical plan to extract the mineworkers from the affected shaft.
#GoldOneMine | The workers outside - AMCU affiliated - have broken their silence for the first time.
' EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) October 24, 2023
“Asinalo uvalo,” they sing at the turnstiles. @khanya_mntambo pic.twitter.com/5aAgQj40rZ
But the plans stalled amid the protracted talks between mine management and union leaders.
A majority of workers at the mine are currently affiliated to the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), in what's called a closed-shop agreement.
Under Section 26 of the Labour Relations Act, this means all workers are represented by a single trade union.
Amcu has filed for a Section 21 process, which requires the union to follow a certain process in obtaining organising rights at the mine.
It remains unclear how the situation will unfold.
