In a tense standoff at the Gold One mine in Springs, approximately 540 miners have chosen to remain underground after union negotiations failed.
Police negotiators have now intervened, reportedly warning of potential force if the miners keep refusing to come to the surface.
The miners, who have been underground since Sunday, are the cannon fodder of a standoff between two mining unions: Amcu (Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union) and the NUM (National Union of Mineworkers).
The NUM claims the miners are being held against their will, a charge Amcu denies. Speaking to Scrolla.Africa, Amcu delegate Musa Khalipha said this was not a hostage situation but a sit-in.
“There are only Amcu members underground. We have even instructed the NUM (National Union of Mineworkers) leaders to fetch their members if there are any trapped but they didn’t,” he said.
The issue is representation: “We want NUM to be removed as a majority representing us while we have 1,700 members and they have 110 members,” Khalipha said. Gold One is a closed shop with only NUM recognised by the mine management.
Negotiations among both unions, management and the CCMA failed on Tuesday night. Police negotiators have arrived at the scene deal directly with the miners underground in an attempt to convince them to resurface.
If those negotiations also fail, there is a police task team on site as well as guards brought in by management during the day to beef up security.
Responding to the failed negotiations, AMCU’s Lesiba Leso said the situation inside the mine is tense.
“The employer didn’t want to entertain our grievances during the negotiations until they collapsed,” he said.
“We are now waiting for the police and security to act. Their plan is to first remove us from the premises, then proceed with those underground.”
It was a battle between the two unions that led to the Marikana tragedy in 2012. Using force by police or private security, say trade union experts, could be equally disastrous.
The crisis began when miners refused to surface after their shift on Sunday. On Monday Gold One secured an interdict prohibiting the detention of its employers underground, but it has clearly been ignored.
Meanwhile at least 15 miners among those underground have been injured, according to the NUM’s Mpho Phakedi; management has sent medicine but not food.
Employee Edward Makhoba, who is trapped in the mine corridors, said not even hunger will deter them.
“The employer has even closed their mageu tabs. We have to depend on those outside for food,” he said.
“But this will not deter us. We are going to fight for our rights and better working conditions. We refuse to be led by a minority group. NUM must step down!”