/ 12 November 2008

Thousands of miners to down tools on day of mourning

Eleven thousand mine workers at the Gold Fields Beatrix mine in the Free State will down tools on Thursday as part of a day of mourning, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Wednesday.

The day of mourning followed the death of a mine worker at the mine last week during a fall of ground.

The workers would attend a memorial service at the mine at 10am, NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said.

After the memorial service, the workers would disperse to their homes.

Seshoka said the day of mourning was in line with a NUM resolution passed by its central committee last year.

Gold Fields could not be reached for comment. — Sapa