'Most Aurora miners have still not been paid'

The Department of Labour's inability to pay workers at Aurora's Grootvlei mine "is extremely worrying", says National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) spokesman Lesiba Seshoka.

Seshoka says 96% of workers who are entitled to payouts from the department have not received a cent. Workers earning less than R12400 can claim from the department, which has been paid some funds by Aurora Empowerment Systems.

"We are beginning to suspect that the department lied about the money in order to protect Aurora," says Phillip Joko, regional chairman of the NUM.

Aurora - which is run by Khulubuse Zuma, a nephew of President Jacob Zuma; the president's lawyer Michael Hulley and Zondwa Mandela, a grandson of Nelson Mandela - is the preferred bidder for the Grootvlei mine, but has been struggling for more than a year to get funding to buy the former Pamodzi mine and pay wages.

Several deals have fallen through and trade unions are sceptical that the latest promise, by a Chinese state-owned company, will materialise.

"The department says they have paid out at least R800000, but we think it is far less," says Seshoka.

According to the Labour Court order late last year, Aurora was forced to pay all outstanding wages, estimated at R15-million, by the end of last year. However, only R2.03-million was given to the department for disbursement.

Seshoka said workers were shown the door at the department's office in Springs last week and were told to come back on Monday. However, officials said on Monday that they are new and cannot help, he added.

According to deputy director-general Siyanda Zondeki, R800000 has been paid to 943 workers. In total, 1238 claims have been submitted, she said.

"We urge people whose names are on the list but who have not been paid, to visit the office in Springs to get their money. Both the team leader and regional manager are in the office and can assist if needed."

Meanwhile, lawyers for trade union Solidarity are finalising an application for Aurora's final liquidation on behalf of workers.