Vryheid mine sees calm restored after underground protest
Calm has returned to the Vaalkrantz Anthracite Colliery mine in Vryheid where miners had staged a sit-in protest underground for almost a week.
The miners left the coal mine peacefully on Friday night after mine owners, Keaton Energy Holdings secured, but decided not to enforce a court interdict to have them removed.
Earlier this week more than 70 mineworkers refused to come up from a shaft, demanding wages owed to them by their now liquidated contractor, Nasonti Mining Services.
Keaton CEO Mandy Glad says they have gotten involved in negotiations even though the miners aren't directly employed by the company.
"We have spoken to their employer and we will facilitate the purchase of equipment from the liquidation," she said.
"Whatever we can do to ensure that these employees are done right by," Glad said.
(Photo: Gallo Images)