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Hundreds of mineworkers who were allegedly held hostage underground have been released.
More than 540 workers had been underground for three days at Gold One's Modder East Operations in Springs, east of Johannesburg.
The workers were allegedly prevented from coming to the surface in what is believed to be a dispute between the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU).
Chief Executive Officer of Gold One Jonathan Hericourt said they obtained an interdict on Monday prohibiting AMCU and its members from engaging in any illegal strike action or any conduct involving the detention and assault of employees.
A spokesperson for NUM Livhuwani Mamburu said workers managed to escape on Wednesday by overpowering AMCU members who held them, hostage.
He said the majority of the workers were crying and very emotional as they nearly died underground.
"They say they are willing to speak to the police to expose the ringleaders who were responsible for the hostage situation.
"As the NUM, we are calling on the police to take strong action against the ring leaders who were responsible for this hostage situation," he said.
NUM said some of the workers held hostage underground included women.
Meanwhile, the company's legal head Ziyaad Hassam, disputed claims that workers have been trying to move from NUM to AMCU, only for the company to delay the process.
"For the past five months, AMCU has been seeking organisational rights within the mine.
"We have a closed-shop agreement with the NUM, and for as long as the closed-shop agreement remains in force, AMCU’s request for organisational rights is subordinate to the closed-shop agreement.
"This was corroborated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration and the Labour Court. So the allegation about the company dragging its feet is not correct," he said.
Additional reporting by Anastasi Mokgobu
