20 workers were reported injured at Glencore’s Wonderfontein coal mine last week after members of the security at the mine opened fire on a group of protestors demanding higher wages.
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) said on Tuesday that their injured members were receiving treatment in hospital and were in stable condition.
“We are dismayed and appalled by the shooting of our members at Shanduka mine. An estimate of twenty AMCU members were shot and wounded this morning when they were protesting at the Wonderfontein coal mine in Mpumalanga,” the Union said in a statement.
“In the early hours of Tuesday morning, personnel from Bidvest security were hired by the mine management and they opened fire on our members for demonstrating outside the employer’s premises.”
According to the AMCU, regional secretary John “Vuvuzela” Sibiya confirmed that the strike was legal and the area where members were demonstrating was a protected area.
“Despite this, our members were accused of bridging the picketing rules by occupying and demonstrating at an illegal area. It’s believed the farmer who stays close to area our members reported them as a nuisance and management intervened by calling security.”
Wonderfontein Coal mine is a joint venture between Glencore and Shanduka Group. The mine produces 3.6 million tonnes annually.
