South African Miners Stage Underground Sit-In

Over 1,000 mine workers at South Africa's  Sibanye goldmine started an underground sit-in late Tuesday to protest the recent death of one of their colleagues, for which they blame the mine's management.



"An employee passed away two weeks ago and the [circumstances of his] death was uncertain," James Wellsted, a spokesman for the Sibanye goldmine, told Anadolu Agency on Wednesday.



"We're still waiting for the pathology report," he added.



While miners believe their colleague's death was the result of a mine-related accident, the mine's management says otherwise. 



Miners began their sit-in late Tuesday after demanding the management take responsibility for the death before the release of the pathology report.



"We have agreed to discuss the issue with the miners on the surface, around a table," Wellsted told Anadolu Agency, saying he expected miners to soon resurface in order to start negotiations.



According to some observers, protesting miners could face health risks in the event that they prolong their underground sit-in.  



South Africa is one of the world's largest producers of gold and other precious metals. - Güney Afrika