By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
SA Police Service are investigating a case of kidnapping and assault after the now-contained situation at East Modder’s Gold One Mine in Springs.
Fifteen mineworkers were arrested on Wednesday for holding several miners hostage.
Gauteng police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili said some mineworkers confirmed that they were held against their will by the group.
The total number of those held hostage, includes a security guards and paramedics, was 562.
Muridili said four injured men, including a security officer, were taken to hospital.
The miners were trapped on Sunday amid a dispute between two trade unions.
The tension is due to a long-standing impasse between rival mining unions Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) over organising rights at the mine.
Gold One’s legal head, Ziyaad Hassam, says the company is pleased that all employees have been safely released.
“While this ordeal has been a traumatic experience, we are relieved to confirm that all employees are now out of harm’s way.
“Regrettably, there were a few injuries sustained during the incident. However, we can confirm that all employees, including those who were injured, are currently receiving medical attention from our healthcare professionals.
“We would like to extend our gratitude to all those involved in ensuring the safe release of the hostages,” says Hassam.
Hassam says the company will now focus on the investigation into the events leading up to the incident.
“We are committed to addressing any underlying issues to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future and on doing everything possible to secure labour peace at the mine.
The NUM-Amcu turf war, which exploded on the Platinum Belt more than a decade ago, was for years a source of labour and social unrest which roiled South Africa’s mining sector and claimed scores of lives, including the 34 mine workers shot dead by police at Marikana in August 2012.
But in the past couple of years, the archrivals buried the hatchet and united in a range of wage talks which saw multiyear agreements signed in the platinum sector without a tool being downed.