Miners from a rival union are holding hundreds of colleagues underground in South Africa, police say

By GERALD IMRAY and MOGOMOTSI MAGOME
Associated Press

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Police in South Africa say a group of gold miners from an unregistered, rival union are holding hundreds of colleagues underground for the second day over a union dispute. The head of the mine says some 15 miners have been injured in scuffles. Details are sketchy and there are conflicting statements about what has happened. The unregistered union asserts that it represents the majority of employees at the mine and it wants to be formally recognized. It denies there is any hostage situation. There has been limited contact with the people underground.