Gold One Mine speaks on dismissal of 400 workers

GOLD One Mine in Springs, Ekurhuleni, in Gauteng says it had no option but to dismiss more than 400 employees who allegedly took part in two underground sit-ins in October and December last year.

It was reported on Monday that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) had said it will appeal and challenge the dismissal of the 401 mineworkers.

Yesterday Gold One Mine’s head of legal, Ziyaad Hassam, told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika that given the miners’ actions during the sit-ins last year, dismissal was an appropriate sanction.

“It doesn’t give us any satisfaction to relieve anybody of their job. We, at all times want to work with employees in a constructive way to address any challenges they face,” Hassam said.

“The situations as they unfolded in October and in December, contravened our code of conduct in several ways.

“A lot of it would bring criminal charges as well. They were also in violation of two clear interdicts preventing any illegal strike action from taking place. Unfortunately, those actions left us with little choice but dismissal as an appropriate sanction.”

The initial sit-in, in October, was sparked by miners’ demands for the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) to be recognised as a representative at the mine in Springs.

Hassam said the sit-in degenerated into a hostage situation underground.

“That process (to recognise Amcu as a union at the mine) had been on the go for months prior to that. Unfortunately, the roadmap towards ending a close-shop agreement (with NUM) and recognition of the new union cannot happen overnight,” Hassam said.

“That process was under way and we had urged the employees to respect the court process. If Amcu had met the required threshold, there would be no obstacles from the mine in terms of welcoming Amcu as a union,” he said.

The mineworkers were unhappy with the legal processes and “took matters into their own hands”, Hassam said.

NUM spokesperson, Livhuwani Mammburu said the union was looking to challenge the mine’s decision.

However, he said, the union will not be representing some of the miners who held others hostage and assaulted workers underground.