Johannesburg - Five mine workers were injured in a clash
with security guards at the Kusasalethu mine of Harmony Gold Mining Company
[JSE:HAR] in Carletonville, the company said on Thursday.
"There was indeed violent behaviour and damage to mine
structure this morning," spokesperson Henrika Basterfield said.
She said 578 employees, including contractors, were
suspended on Thursday for taking part in an unprotected strike last week.
On Thursday, workers clashed with security guards. Rubber
bullets were fired and five people were injured.
The mine would close a day earlier for the festive season.
"At the moment we are evacuating the shaft. We are
closing."
On Thursday, Harmony's chief operating officer Tom Smith
said violence would not be tolerated at the mine.
"To ensure the safety of our employees it has become
imperative to close the shaft until the labour issues have been resolved."
Late last month two workers were killed and a third injured
during violence believed to be the result of rivalry between the Association of
Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) and the National Union of
Mineworkers.
Management, the recognised unions, and Amcu, had been in
talks about ending conflict at the mine since workers ended an unprotected
strike on October 25.
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