Violent Amcu strike not yet over

Sibanye-Stillwater is expecting violence to continue at its gold mines after the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union started striking on Wednesday last week.

“The situation at the Beatrix and Driefontein operations‚ in particular‚ remains tense‚ with striking workers causing damage to company property and restricting access to the company’s operating mine sites‚” the company said on Wednesday. “These violent actions are in direct contravention of the interdict granted by the labour court to Sibanye-Stillwater on Thursday November 22 and as a result is in contempt of court.”

This comes after a National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) member was shot and killed and four others were injured last week Wednesday at the Beatrix mine in Welkom.

Amcu general secretary Jeff Mphahlele said at a media briefing on Thursday, in Johannesburg, that they were still gathering information about the incident, and could not confirm whether it was a NUM or Amcu member who had been killed.

The company said on Monday it remained relatively stable at the weekend‚ with intimidation limited to the Beatrix operations in the Free State.

Sibanye-Stillwater employs about 32‚200 people at its gold operations. Amcu represents about 43% of employees in the bargaining unit.

Sibanye-Stillwater said management continued to speak to Amcu leadership to try and find an amicable solution‚ to respect the rights of workers and “avoid further violence”.

Sibanye-Stillwater signed a three-year wage agreement with trade unions NUM‚ Solidarity and Uasa on November 14, which it deems “in excess of inflation”.

Sibanye-Stillwater claims it tried to negotiate with Amcu since June but “despite having participated in the construct of the final offer‚ Amcu declined to accept the offer”.