Trade union Solidarity on Friday said 100 of its members were trapped 900m underground at Gold Fields’ Beatrix mine outside of Welkom in the Free State as 1 200 other mineworkers embarked on an illegal strike at the mine.
Solidarity said the 100 mineworkers had been trapped underground against their will for more than 24 hours.
The trade union demanded that the mine’s management act to bring the trapped workers to the surface immediately.
Solidarity said it would hold management responsible should anything happen to its members.
In the meantime, mine management has reportedly issued the striking mine workers with an ultimatum, warning them that if they do not return to work they could be immediately dismissed.
“Strikers are apparently unhappy about certain internal grievances,” Solidarity said.
Solidarity members were not part of the strike, which was reportedly called by another union. – I-Net Bridge