Byline:Nonjabuliso Nhlambo
11 October 2023
A group of job seekers turned violent when they could not reach an agreement with the mine management after their planned meeting could not materialise on Monday 09 October 2023.
According to the report, the incident dates back from 02 October 2023 when the concerned job seekers marched to Universal Coal Mine in Belfast to hand over their concerns about unavailability of job opportunities for locals in the mine.
After the march, both parties, the job seekers and mine management reached an agreement for a follow up meeting which was scheduled for Monday 09 October 2023.
It is alleged that the mine management could not allow everybody in its premises, but suggested that the group’s representatives will be allowed in so that they could share the meeting’s outcomes to the entire concerned group.
The group could not agree to that and resorted into violence. Police contained the situation and the group was escorted back to Siyathuthuka.
According to information, the concerned job seekers regrouped in the evening of 09 October 2023 from about 19h00 to 23h00.
During their gathering, two vehicles belonging to two different companies contracted to the mine were torched in different areas of the township. The group further advanced to one of the mine employee’s residence believed to be in management and torched his vehicle as well.
The group regrouped again on Tuesday morning and blocked roads with burning tires.
The Police tried their best to contain the situation and as a result two male suspects aged 26 and 29 years were arrested for public violence.
The total value of the damaged properties will be known as investigation continues.
The duo are expected to appear before Belfast Magistrate’s Court soon.
The situation is currently under control and police are constantly monitoring the area.
The South African Police Service in Mpumalanga condemned the acts of violence and damage to properties.
