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The Congress of South African Trade Unions is very disappointed and disturbed by the situation of mine workers' conditions of service which took lives of two workers on 2 September 2009.

The Hernic Ferrochrome mine is situated in the municipality of Madibeng on the road to Pretoria and employs over 1000 mine workers under JIC contractors, which is continuing to exploit workers.

Two workers died during fire at the hostel, which looks like a place where chickens are kept.16 workers stay in one room with no water, no toilets, no food. That place is for chicken, pigs or baboons.

This place was on fire, then two workers burned to death without assistance from management, police, municipality or Departments of Labour or Mining.

The incident was not reported to Departments of Labour or Mining, who shift the blame to the police.

COSATU and the NUM must report to the public that the poor workers who were in that block of that hostel do not have any clothes, no Identity Documents, no blankets and nothing as we speak. This is the way JIC Contractors exploit workers.

Management only agreed to take responsibility for the funeral, transporting workers to Kwa Zulu Natal and buying clothes to workers now, after COSATU/ NUM addressed the memorial service at the hostel.

COSATU / NUM must also inform the public that one worker is unknown to anybody except the management.

COSATU / NUM demand that

• The Department of Labour do inspections under the Basic Condition of Employment Act
• The police release the investigation report and arrest those who are implicated.
• Hernic Ferrochrome Mine build new houses for mine workers with water, toilet, electricity and infrastructure.
• JIC Contractors take responsibility for all the workers' damaged property.

COSATU, jointly with SACP, ANCWL, SANCO, YCL, ANCYL and members of Madibeng Community, is preparing a protest march to the mine workers on 18 September 2009, demanding the eradication of contractors, labour brokers and also demanding that the current employees of JIC to be employed by Hernic Ferrochrome Mine with all the benefits.