Our contracts were terminated out of the blue: Vryheid miner

Our contracts were terminated out of the blue: Vryheid miner

Eight workers who were allowed into Vaalkrantz Anthracite Colliery in Vryheid to deliver food to the 40 remaining coal miners who're staging a sit-in have been turned back. 

Vaalkrantz Anthracite Colliery miners want contract system to end
Khatija Nxedlana

They were granted access by police at the main gate but they say they were turned away when they got to the second entry point. 


Police have also refused entry into the mine to journalists. This has caused anger among community members gathered outside who are questioning the secrecy. 


In an impromptu protest earlier, the community members chanted and prevented one vehicle with two men believed to be from a private security company from exiting.


LISTEN: Councillor negotiates with police in Vryheid miners sit-in 



Meanwhile, one worker Lihle Magudulele is pleading with Keaton under which Nasonti Maining Services falls to do away with contracts.


"Our contracts were just terminated out of the blue, when we came to report for word, we weren't allowed in because our contract has been terminated but the contracts that we signed stated that it ends in December this year. 


"On top of that they haven't paid us. We are [standing up] for our rights," she said.


For more updates follow Newswatch's Khatija Nxedlana on Twitter. 

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