An underground sit-in by dozens of workers at Petra Diamonds' Kimberley mine entered its third day on Thursday, the company said.
“There has been a sit-in since Tuesday. About 65 people are involved,” said company spokesman Gert Klopper.
He said mining operations were unable to proceed at the Northern Cape site.
“The afternoon shift that went down on Tuesday reported for work, went underground but did not start work.”
Klopper said that since then the group had stayed underground, while still receiving food and having access to water.
“They are welcome to come out anytime. We would appreciate that.”
Klopper said talks between the mine management and the National Union of Mineworkers - the representative union at the mine - had not yet been able to resolve the issue.
Both sides were however “committed” to finding a solution, he said.
The rest of the mine's approximately 500 workers, not involved in the sit-in, were being given alternative tasks. - Sapa