Middelburg — Workers at the Schwarz Coal Noordhulp site say they have gone months without full payment due to financial troubles facing the mine. In addition to this, the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources slammed the mine with a section 54 notice on 21 November 2025.
This is issued under the Mine Health and Safety Act, allowing for an immediate, partial or total suspension due to serious health and safety issues.
The situation has left several employees and their families in financial distress. “I don’t sleep at night because of stress,” said Slyvia Mahlangu, a community liaison officer at the mine. She started working for the company in December 2025. “I had to borrow money from abomashonisa to pay for my child’s university registration.”
Excavator Operator Bongani Nhlapo said he has worked at the site for about a year without a formal contract and was repeatedly told contracts were coming but never received one. “We don’t get payslips. We don’t even know about UIF. Overtime is not paid.”
Nhlapo said his last full salary was in July 2025.
On 09 December 2025, workers boycotted work and following this, the mine apparently dispersed partial salaries where each received R2,000, but were allegedly warned against raising complaints. “He said whoever complains about not getting paid would be fired and will not get their outstanding salaries,” Mahlangu claimed.
During the tools-down protest, one worker allegedly took a machinery key home. “He said he will not give the company the key back until they pay him. But security was sent to threaten him and take the keys,” Mahlangu explained.
Mahlangu claims workers were told coal would be sold to pay salaries. “They loaded the coal and told us they are going to sell it so they can pay us. Later they came back and said the money was stolen,” she said, adding that management continued to demand that workers report for duty despite unpaid wages.
The continuation of partial payments led workers to stop operations on 02 February 2026.
Schwarz Coal denies allegations of threats or intimidation against employees, saying no formal complaints or evidence have been submitted to the company.
The company says it received no income between October 2025 and January 2026 and that operations resumed properly on 13 January 2026.
The company proposes paying half salaries for September, November and December 2025, arguing these were not full working months. Outstanding salaries are proposed to be paid in two instalments but no payment date has been given.
Once operations stabilise, the company said it plans to use a registered labour service provider to manage payroll and compliance. It says outstanding employment matters will be regularised according to labour laws.
