JOHANNESBURG, February 22 (ANA) - The chief executive of Optimum Coal Mine, owned by the controversial Gupta family, is expected to address striking workers over the future of the company and payment of their salaries on Thursday, according to ENCA.
About 2,000 workers affiliated to the National Union of Mineworkers went on strike at the at the mine in Mpumalanga province on Wednesday, demanding to know if the company would be sold and whether they would be paid this week.
South African banks have cut services to the Gupta's, a wealthy Indian family accused of using its personal ties with former president Zuma to wield inappropriate influence over the government and state owned companies. Both the family and Zuma had denied having a corrupt relationship.
India’s Bank of Baroda, which was the only bank with ties to the family's operations and handled workers payments at Optimum Coal, has said it is exiting South Africa, leaving workers uncertain about their salaries.
The mine supplies coal to state power utility Eskom
- African News Agency (ANA)
