Rescue operations halted at Gloria Coal Mine
Rescue operations at Gloria Coal Mine have been suspended due to a group of disgruntled workers.
The workers claim they have not been paid their salaries.
Six people have now been confirmed dead after being trapped in an unused shaft at the mine in Middelburg, Mpumalanga following an explosion allegedly caused by copper thieves.
Rescue operations to bring the 22 miners who are believed to be trapped underground begun on Wednesday.
Police say community members forced themselves into the mine shaft in an attempt to rescue some of the trapped miners but to no avail.
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Business rescue practitioner Mike Elliot says rescue workers have been prevented from bringing the trapped miners to the surface.
"We have been prevented from continuing with the recovery operations by a disgruntled group of people who have not been paid their salaries. They refuse to allow us to continue with the recovery operations and that includes the repairing the power to the mine, restoring the power to the fans so that we can put fresh air underground."
Elliot says they have had to vacate the area due to threats of violence.
"We have left the mine we cannot stay there it is not safe for us anymore, we believe these two groups of people are going to sort out whatever problems that they have with each other."
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