Marikana, near Rustenburg in North West, is a hive of activity as scores of mine workers are leaving for their respective homes for the festive season.
Most of them are migrant workers from the Eastern Cape, including neighbouring countries Lesotho and Mozambique.
The hustle and bustle of a typical minibus taxi rank was at its peak in the early morning at Marikana on Friday.
This was as mine workers were excitedly and patiently waiting for their vehicles to make a full load before they pull out.
Vendors were also busy selling their wares through windows of vehicles while engines were already throttling for long distances.
Heaps of luggage were stacked on trailers hooked behind almost every vehicle destined for long trips. Notably among the luggage are groceries and all sorts of toys such as bicycles.
Long hours are expected to be spent on the roads with the hope to arrive home safely as per commitments made by drivers.
The miners are expected to return on the 3 January 2018.
