ANA reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in the Matlosana region in the North West said on Monday that members would be marching to Harmony Gold in Vaal Reefs, Orkney, on Tuesday to raise concerns around safety.
Harmony bought various shafts in the area from AngloGold Ashanti and took over the operations in March 2018. NUM Matlosana regional secretary Masibulele Naki said that since Harmony took over, there had been an increase of illegal miners who were freely staying on the company’s property and were allegedly terrorising and raping women in the area. “We urge all community members within Vaal Reefs - Orkney to join the protest to raise their safety concerns to the company regarding the mine’s properties being used as hubs by some rapists and illegal miners,” said Naki. According to Naki, an incident had occurred in which a woman had been raped by around 15 illegal miners, but the company had done nothing so far to ensure that its properties were not the hubs of rapists. He claimed that, despite all the dangers faced by workers and community at large, Harmony was refusing to provide transport for workers from their residential areas to shafts.
- Read this report in full at The Citizen
- Read the NUM’s press statement at NUM News
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