Harmony 'miners' go to court
Harmony gold mine. File photo.
Image by: Reuben Goldberg
Image by: Reuben Goldberg
A handful of the 6000 miners from Harmony Gold's Kusasalethu mine, which remains closed pending negotiations with unions, want the courts to order that they be allowed to continue to live in the mine's hostels.
The mine and its hostels were closed for safety reasons after violent protests left two people dead and led to widespread destruction of mine property.
Harmony Gold spokesman Marian van der Walt said it was not known if the 51 men living in a tent and wanting to move into the mine's hostels were employees of the mine.
Acting for the 51 miners, Frans Barrie SC told the Johannesburg High Court yesterday that the case was "urgent as the men had been asked to leave the tent provided by a church".
Ivan Miltz SC, for Harmony Gold, told Judge Ndawoyakhe Tshabalala that the company had offered to transport the workers to their homes.
The hearing continues today.
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