The Citizen reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has lodged a formal appeal over the dismissal of mineworkers by Sibanye Gold at its Cooke operations in Westonaria.  

The union said:  “We were informed by the employer that 2,000 workers have been dismissed.  We have 1,100 members and we are going to appeal the unfair dismissal.”  Sibanye’s spokesperson, James Wellsted, advised that out of 3,800 workers at the Cooke operations, 1,514 had been dismissed, 700 of whom were NUM members and 500 Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) members.  The appeal process was scheduled to start on Wednesday at the mine.  It is the NUM’s contention that its members stayed away from work for fear of their lives.  The dismissals followed an unprotected strike, supposedly spearheaded by Amcu, which had been brought about by the reduction of food supply by the employer for the underground workers.  Wellsted said the intention in reducing the food supply taken underground was to eliminate illegal mining activities at the mine.  Currently, 359 illegal miners have been arrested as a result of the campaign to stamp out illegal mining.  

• Read this report by Vicky Abraham in full at The Citizen

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page