DOUSING FLAMES
Minerals Minister Mosebenzi Zwane to visit Northam to quell labour tensions
FINDING solutions to quell tensions between organised labour is expected to be the focus of Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane visit to Northam Platinum’s Zondereinde mine today.
Northam shares were little changed yesterday, easing 0.02 percent to R44.24.
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) got into a public spat yesterday with the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) president Joseph Mathunjwa for making allegations during a radio interview, following the killing of two miners at the mine.
“Mathunjwa accused NUM of having started violence in cahoots with the police in Northam (a town),” the NUM’s spokesman Livhuwani Mammburu said. Mathunjwa told SAfm that the union was being excluded from talks at Northam Platinum mine after clashes between workers.
Tensions between the unions had been blamed for the killings at the mine, which has been closed since Sunday, although the company said there was no evidence to support this. Labour strife has been a hot potato for the mining industry following the Marikana massacre in August 2012, where 34 miners were killed in a police shoot out at Lonmin’s Marikana mine.
Mammburu confirmed that as a recognised and majority union at Zondereinde, the NUM had meetings with management and police this week to try to find a lasting solution after “our member” was gunned downed on Sunday.
“We are also empowered in terms of the Labour Relations Act to hold meetings with the management and they are not secret. Amcu is not a recognised union at Northam Platinum,” he said.
Mammburu added that since last year, five NUM members were killed and the perpetrators were still at large.
Rene Rautenbach, Northam’s manager for projects and strategy, said security at Zondereinde mine, which produces 280 000 ounces of platinum group metals, had been beefed up and this had helped in restoring calm to the mine.
“We condemn violence and intimidation in any form in the strongest terms. We call on all parties to act responsibly and we further urge both the NUM and Amcu to exercise leadership following these tragic incidents, in the interests of safety for all.”
An employee was shot dead in the town of Northam, 20km from Zondereinde platinum mine this week, followed by sporadic outbreaks of violence in the area and the stabbing to death of another employee at the Thabazimbi Road.
Rautenbach said the closure of the mine would hurt the company.
“Given current weak economic fundamentals, work stoppages have a negative impact on the continued sustainability of mining operations.
“We are committed to engaging, and continue to engage, with union leadership. Talks continue with all parties to find a resolution with discussions… carrying on late last night. Discussions have continued,” Rautenbach said.
Work stoppages have a negative impact on the continued sustainability of mining operations.