By: Natasha Archary and Tsholofelo Tsoku

The South African Police Services (SAPS) have confirmed the hostage situation at the Gold One mine in Springs, where over 500 mineworkers have not surfaced in 3-days.
SAPS is treating the situation at the Modderfontein East mine as a hostage situation with a Joint Operational Center (JOC) being established at the scene.
The JOC includes members from the Public Order Policing, Tactical Response Unit, Visible Policing, Detectives, SAPS Hostage Negotiators, Crime Intelligence, EMPD, as well as Mine Security personnel among other stakeholders.
Provincial Commissioner of the Police in Gauteng, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela confirmed the situation after an engagement with management at the mine on Tuesday, 24 October.
Workers at the Gold one east mine in Springs.
Over 500 others remain underground. #kayanews #Amcu #Num TT pic.twitter.com/J1Jlq1wCKE
— Kaya 959 News (@KayaNews) October 24, 2023
On Wednesday, 25 October, several workers who have been underground for 3 days have surfaced from the mine shaft.
The stand-off is between worker unions, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) over the representation of workers.
AMCU says the sit-in is from its members who are demanding that the union be recognized as the majority representation.
Meanwhile, NUM says the mineworkers were taken hostage and are being held against their will.
Kaya News reporter Tsholofelo Tsoku shared that 3 more people were taken hostage after they were sent down to assist a person who was reported to be injured. Two paramedics and a security officer who were escorting them have not returned to the surface since their descent into the shaft.
Workers continue to come out from underground at Gold one Modderfontein east mine in Springs. #kayanews TT pic.twitter.com/MDtl5SK1ev
— Kaya 959 News (@KayaNews) October 25, 2023
Also read: SAPS officer and 8 others arrested for kidnapping syndicate targeting Portuguese businessman
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