Johannesburg - Hundreds of striking Gold Fields workers were gathering at the KDC west mine near Carletonville on Saturday morning.
The miners, some carrying sticks and knobkerries and singing, were waiting for Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi to address them.
Some were carrying posters which read: “We can't go back to work tomorrow without R12 500, equalisation, keys from NUM office, original pay slips”.
Workers at Gold Fields have been on strike for 20 days and demanded a monthly pay of R12 500 after deductions.
One of the miner's representatives Sibongile Ngqwena said they called Vavi to the mine on Saturday because their leaders have let them down.
“We called Mr Vavi today because we need support from Mr Vavi, because we need this R12 500, because we don't have the support from NUM leadership. He promised to come and give us this support.”
Last week the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) president Senzeni Zokwana told striking mineworkers the union would meet the Chamber of Mines to discuss wages of mine workers nationally.
He said they would discuss a minimum wage for workers in both the coal and gold mining sector.
However, Ngqwena said they have not heard anything from him.
“Since he came here he failed to support us, he failed to represent us.”
Earlier this month, Gold Fields secured a court interdict to end the wildcat strike. The court found that the strike was unlawful and ordered that workers return to work immediately.
Spokesman Sven Lunsche said the court order had been ignored. - Sapa