The dismissals involve 48% of the mine’s workforce and will reduce operations to only two of five underground sections.

The protestors were striking because of the suspension of four colleagues who allegedly breached picketing rules and terms of a court ruling during a previous protected strike at Mooiplaats.

A strike over wages, which began in September, forced the company to declare force majeure but was settled with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in October.

Coal of Africa said the dismissed workers were affiliated with NUM and were part of the wages collective bargaining unit.

They have been given one week to appeal.

The news coincides with a statement from the miner that denied claims of environmental non-compliance regarding its Vele mine.

The Save Mapungubwe Coalition withdrew from a memorandum of understanding with Coal of Africa on preservation and sustainable development of the open cut mine, which is near the Mapungubwe world heritage site.

The culture and environment-focused coalition has claimed ongoing non-compliance with water legislation at Vele.

Coal of Africa issued a statement yesterday saying the mine was regularly audited by environmental authorities and had not received negative feedback on environmental compliance.