Concerned families stand outside the Bafokeng Rasimone platinum mine in the vicinity of Rustenberg as the second day of an underground strike by over 2,200 miners approaches.
On Tuesday, anxious families awaited word of the platinum miners’ occupation of two shafts in one of the largest mining protests in South Africa in recent memory.
About 500 meters below the surface, the protest began on Monday. However, Impala Platinum Holdings (Implats) said that 63 miners emerged throughout the night because to the challenging conditions.
Due to what it claimed to be an illegal subterranean protest, the firm has ceased all operations at the mine. Implats issued a strong warning, threatening to fire staff members who engage in improper behavior or break the law.
Some of the miners claimed they had previously been suspended for holding unapproved work meetings prior to the start of the protests, and they are demanding the promised bonuses and pension payments.
