Johannesburg - Ululation, whistles and jubilation greeted expelled ANCYL leader Julius Malema's arrival at the Aurora mine in Grootvlei, Springs, on Thursday.
Workers sang “Ngisebenzela izingane zami emgodini” (I'm working for my children in the mine).
Malema arrived in a Mercedes-Benz Viano minibus dressed in a white shirt, black pants and his trademark beret.
Workers at the mine told Malema how President Jacob Zuma promised to help them, but never honoured his words.
“Zuma was here... took payslips and promised to attend to our problems. He then disappeared and then brought his kids to run the mine,” said one of the workers.
Aurora's directors include Zuma's nephew Khulubuse Zuma and former president Nelson Mandela's grandson, Zondwa Mandela.
Workers told Malema how the liquidators of Aurora Empowerment Systems demolished their hostel, leaving them on the street.
“We were paid R500 and told that was 40 percent of our provident fund,” one of the workers claimed.
Malema was expected to address the workers, left without wages for months after Aurora took over the liquidated Pamodzi Gold mines. Aurora's directors have been accused of stripping the mine's assets and not paying workers their salaries. An inquiry into the matter is underway. - Sapa