Johannesburg, South Africa (CNN) -- Nine mine employees were hurt Monday when Anglo American Platinum security guards shot rubber bullets to break up a confrontation between rival union groups at a mine in northwest South Africa, the company said in a statement. The incident occurred at the company's Siphumelele mine in the Rustenburg area and involved members of the Workers Committee and shop stewards for the National Union of Mineworkers. "As they were attempting to evacuate the NUM shop stewards who were trapped in their offices, three security personnel sustained minor injuries during this incident," the statement said. All 12 injured employees received medical attention; none of the injuries was life-threatening, it added.
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Nine employees were shot with rubber bullets, the company says
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Three security personnel sustained minor injuries, it adds
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Workers Committee members are contesting the legitimacy of the National Union of Mineworkers
In October, police repeatedly clashed with protesters near one of @placeholder's mines, and the company fired about 12,000 striking workers who refused to attend disciplinary hearings.