More than a hundred miners managed to escape from the hostage situation at the Gold One Mine in Springs this morning using a different tunnel, the National Union of Mine Workers (NUM) confirmed. About 540 miners at the mine in the East Rand have allegedly been held hostage by members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction (Amcu) since Monday morning after a night shift.

NUM regional leader, Mlulameli Mweli, said 107 miners have escaped but they were still concerned about those remaining underground without basic needs. "Unfortunately, we could not confirm the number of people that escaped the hostage situation but they have been taken in for medical attention to see if their state of health is still good and then they will give statements to the police. Gold One's chief executive Jon Hericourt said the company was concerned about the employees being held hostage which resulted in some sustaining injuries. "We address this situation with the utmost gravity and remain dedicated to resolving it in a manner that prioritises the well-being and safety of all our employees. We are actively engaging with relevant authorities, including the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and the SAPS to ensure the safety and protection of all parties involved," said Hericourt. He said the families of the trapped employees have started to gather outside the premises and have brought food and water, throwing it over the fence.

Amcu seeks to be recognised by the mine as they say they've met the criteria needed and they say they will not give up until their grievances are heard. Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, AMCU representative at the mine Musa Khalipha said that the three-day "sit-in" would come to an end today as they are trying to convince miners to come out. He said that the union is working on a new petition to be handed over to mine management to get recognition status. "We will continue with the strike even after our colleagues resurface, we're waiting for a ballot vote," he added.