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South African Gold Miners Emerge After 3-Day Underground Hostage Crisis

Published October 26, 2023
1 years ago

In a worrying development reminiscent of the Marikana Massacre, over 550 gold miners in South Africa emerged after spending three days deep within Modder East mine near Johannesburg. This incident reportedly began on Sunday, and it serves as a chilling reminder of the ongoing labour dispute with an unregistered union in the mining sector.


According to a mine official, the miners were allegedly held hostage in the mine by supporters of this unregistered labour union. A rough estimate by the mine-running company revealed that between 110-120 miners might be supportive of this unrecognized body. A contentious point was whether the miners were actually held against their will, or if they stayed underground willingly in protest, as claimed by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU).


The dispute took a violent turn early Monday, as scuffles broke out within the mine, leading to approximately 15 injuries, including a serious head injury. A paramedic and a security officer sent in by the mine company for evacuation were also allegedly taken hostage.


Notwithstanding the dramatic events, as the miners emerged from the underground, there were no immediate signs of violence. Ziyaad Hassam, the head of legal at Gold One International that owns the mine, reported that the escaped miners were under physical stress from the ordeal.


The AMCU maintains that it represents the majority of the miners at Modder East, and is seeking formal recognition. However, NUM, the officially recognized union, is currently the exclusive representative for all mine workers.


This hostage situation underscores the long-standing rivalry and tension between the AMCU and NUM, which figured prominently in South Africa's infamous Marikana Massacre in 2012. That tragic incident saw 34 striking miners shot by the police, representing the country's most lethal use of force by its police since the 1976 Soweto uprisings.



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