Horizon Chrome Mine fires workers over underground sit-in

The Horizon Chrome Mine in Tlhatlhaganyane near Rustenburg in North West has dismissed over 140 workers who staged an underground sit-in last week.

The workers were demanding a salary increase.

They say an entry level miner earns about R6 500 a month, which they say does not match the work done and the dangers they face underground.

One of the dismissed workers, Levy Muchlanga says, “Our demand specifically is money. We are not talking percentages. We are talking 3.5 upwards. If management can say we don’t have 3.5, you get 2.5, we can still sit and negotiate.”

Muchlanga says, “Maybe we can reach terms but now if they are talking percentages we are not going to allow percentage…We are not going to allow the underground employees to be undermined by this management, giving our brothers and sisters on surface enough salary than those who are underground risking their lives.”

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) says it will challenge the decision by Horizon Chrome Mine.

The mine is yet to react to the union’s move.

VIDEO | Horizon Chrome Mineworkers stage underground protest: