The urgent application by a trade union and miners to get access to Harmony Gold's Kusasalethu mine hostel was postponed in the High Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) and workers were applying to regain access to the mine's hostel after they were locked out on January 3.
Judge Ndawoyakhe Tshabalala asked what the urgency of the application was, since Harmony Gold had offered to transport miners home.
Ivan Miltz, for the miners, argued that their livelihoods were affected and many of them were “put up in a tent”.
He said the miners were told to leave on Tuesday, but assured the court arrangements would be made until the application was heard.
The court heard that the replying affidavit was handed in late and Tshabalala had not had time to study it.
“The matter is rolled over to 10am tomorrow (Wednesday),” Tshabalala said.
On January 3 miners were told the mine had been shut down until further notice, in order to review operations after several illegal strikes.
Miners were denied access to the hostel and many slept outside the gates.
In December 1700 workers at the Kusasalethu mine had a sit-in demanding that their fellow employees, who had been suspended, be reinstated.
Amcu and the miners had representatives in court on Tuesday. - Sapa