More than 500 workers at a mine in South Africa have been underground since Sunday in what appears to be a dispute between two unions.

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said staff at One Gold Modder East mine near Johannesburg were being held underground against their will.

An NUM statement said: "NUM calls for the law enforcement agencies in South Africa to intervene and go underground and arrest the hooligans who are holding our members against their will."

However, a rival organisation, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), said most of the employees were holding a protest to force the mine to recognise the Amcu.

Representatives from the mine itself have sought a court order to end what they’ve described as an illegal sit-in underground.