Harmony Gold has confirmed that more than a thousand miners who had been staging a sit in at the Kusasalethu mine near Carltonville, west of Johannesburg, have returned to the surface.

The miners refused to surface after their shift on Wednesday following a disagreement over money.

Harmony Gold says following all night discussions at the mine, the workers have resurfaced.

Eighteen miners were earlier evacuated for medical reasons.

Harmony Gold spokesperson Charmaine Russell says, “Food and more than 5000 bottles of water have been sent down to the striking mine workers who are currently holed up in a travelling passage 2.4km underground. At least 18 have been evacuated for medical reasons…”

Russel says, “While some have pre-existing medical conditions, dehydration and exhaustion have taken the toll on others. Demands that have just recently been communicated to management include a bonus, the removal of certain shift managers and that no disciplinary action be taken against striking workers.”

The mine says these are demands that should have been communicated through conventional channels.