APA-Johannesburg (South Africa) A three-day underground sit-in involving over 2,000 miners at Bafokeng Platinum Mine in North West province has ended peacefully, with a union leader describing some of the protestors as “opportunists” who lost elections for positions in the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
Impala Platinum Holdings, owner of the mine, said all 2,205 workers who have since Monday been protesting underground over bonuses and conditions had “returned safely to surface”.
“Impala Platinum is pleased to report that all the employees who were engaged in an illegal and unprotected underground protest at Impala Bafokeng, without the support of the representative union, have exited the underground workings and returned safely to surface,” the company said in a statement.
The employees were demanding better working conditions during the industrial action, according to the firm.
NUM regional chairperson Geoffrey Moatshe said some of the miners who took part in the strike were disgruntled members who lost out on top union positions.
“I can confirm that these (strikers) are some of our own comrades who lost during elections in the branches, and who need power at all costs,” Moatshe said on Wednesday.
The mining industry has been hit by a spate of underground sit-in in the past two months.
“It’s a worrying trend within the industry. We need to nip it in the bud — and see to it that it does not happen again,” Moatshe said.
NM/jn/APA