MINER RAPED AT WORK

Union demands answers after zama zama ambushes victim in women s change room

A SUSPECTED illegal miner who was arrested for allegedly raping a woman mineworker in Rustenburg could have used another employee’s clock-in card to gain access to the premises.

The suspect, Vuyisile Mbobo, allegedly slept inside the female changing rooms at Anglo American Platinum’s Thembelani Mine on Saturday night and then pounced on the woman when she arrived to start her shift at about 4am on Sunday.

The National Union of Mineworkers ’ (NUM) regional secretary, Sydwell Dokolwana, said Mbobo was carrying a screwdriver and ordered the woman to undress. She refused and a physical scuffle began. “She fought him off for about an hour before she slipped on the wet floor and fell. That ’ s when the rapist overpowered her …”

Mbobo is also alleged to have tried to rape a second employee who walked in. The woman screamed and Mbobo then ran away, hiding on the mine’s premises.

He was later apprehended by the company ’ s security, handed over to the police, and appeared in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. He will appear again next week for a formal bail application and was remanded in custody.

North West police spokeswoman Sergeant Kealeboga Molale confirmed the incident and said they did not know how Mbobo got onto the mine premises.

“It’s a mystery how he dodged the mine security. He could have used someone’s access card, but we cannot confirm that at this stage, ” said Molale.

Workers are now calling for the implementation of a biometric access system which scans an employee ’ s fingerprints to prevent people from entering the premises illegally.

Sanki Molefe, chairwoman of the NUM’s women ’ s structure in Rustenburg, said the union was concerned about the safety of workers “because this happened in the same area where there is a security guard”.

“Access cards sometimes get into the wrong hands and that compromises security. Anglo American is probably the only mine that still uses clock cards. We will push for them to implement the biometric system,” said Molefe.

Last week Sowetan reported that illegal miners, known as zama zamas, pay up to R35 000 in bribes to gain access to the mines.

In February 2012, Binkie Mosiane, 27, was brutally raped and murdered by a colleague while working underground at Khomanani shaft. A used condom was found next to her body. Her killer was sentenced to two life terms last year.

At the time, Amplats vowed to improve security at its mines.

Molefe said in the past many cases of sexual harassment occurred underground. However, she said these have since declined as more women were now being employed on mines.

Yesterday, Amplats spokeswoman Mpumi Sithole said the company was still investigating how the suspect got onto the mine’s premises. “He was there illegally and we are investigating whether any lapse of security had occurred,” she said.

“Since the last incident, we had been working together with female employees to identify security shortcomings. We have since deployed a 24-hour security [guard] close to the [change rooms].”

Sithole did not comment about the use of access cards.

She fought him off for about an hour before she fell