North West police spokesperson, Amanda Funani, says the incident at the mine, owned by China Africa Precious Metals (CAPM), occurred just before midnight when the two guards on duty spotted an unknown number of suspects entering the mine. When probed, the alleged assailants began to shoot at the security guards, injuring the one. 

Reports indicate the injured security guard is 44 years old and is currently receiving treatment for his injuries at a Klerksdorp hospital. Police are investigating the matter and have not revealed whether the assailants were indeed illegal miners.

Meanwhile, the situation at the mine is tense. OFM News has been informed that CAPM suspended operations on Thursday in light of the shooting incident. This, however, has angered mineworkers who are now protesting outside the mine, demanding their salaries to be paid.

In May 2019, about 69 Orkney 7 Shaft mineworkers staged a sit-in underground after unions reached an impasse with the North West-based mine over wage related matters. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) spokesperson, Livhuwani Mammburu, alleged CAPM refused to sign off on an eight percent wage agreement that was negotiated with the workers. The mine would later sign off on the wage agreement, resulting in an end to the sit-in.

This is still a developing story.

OFM News