Brits hostage drama continues
2009-07-10 07:05
Johannesburg - Hundreds of mineworkers were still holding seven supervisors hostage underground at a platinum and chrome mine near Brits on Friday morning, police said.
Superintendent Lesego Metsi said initially it was believed that four supervisors were being held hostage.
"We were told there are four, only to find out there are eight. Last night [Thursday night], one of them managed to escape," Metsi told SABC radio news.
"There are seven who are still being held hostage. We are negotiating."
About 400 mineworkers at the Crocodile River mine are threatening to stay underground with their hostages until their demands are met.
"We are concerned... they were there for the whole day yesterday [Thursday] and there is no food," said Metsi.
The miners are temporary workers and are demanding to be employed permanently.
- SAPA