A total of 85 mine workers were arrested for holding an illegal gathering in Rustenburg, North West police said on Friday.
Brigadier Thulane Ngubane said the miners from different mines in the area were arrested on Thursday.
He said about 200 mine workers refused to disperse after police told them their gathering was illegal.
The workers were apparently angry about their low salaries.
“They say there is a mine in the area that is paying its employees a lot more than what they are getting from their mines... so that is what they are frustrated about,” said Ngubane. – Sapa