Thousands to lose jobs if marginal shafts close
FEARS are mounting that the strike in the platinum belt will lead to the closure of marginal shafts and thousands of job losses.
Franz Stehring, divisional manager of trade union United Association of South Africa (Uasa), said it expected Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) to shut its Khuseleka and Khomanani shafts, which faced the chop during restructuring last year, when the current strike ended.
“We negotiated with Amplats to keep those two shafts open, and we agreed to minimum grades that have to be achieved. After nine weeks, we doubt that those shafts are still viable, and we expect section 189 notices as soon as the strike ends,” Stehring said. The closure of the two shafts would cost up to 8 000 jobs.
Members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) went on strike at the world’s three biggest platinum miners — Amplats, Impala and Lonmin — on January 23, demanding a minimum wage of R12 500 a month.
The demand has since been revised to R12 500 to be achieved over three years. This would require an average annual increase of between 30% and 40% year on year. Producers are offering 9% in year one for entrylevel workers.
Amplats spokeswoman Mpumi Sithole said: “If the strike continues the company will have to assess its position.”
Amcu president Joseph Matunjwa vowed during a well-attended march to the Amplats head office in Johannesburg this week to intensify the strike, and said workers would not back down on their demands.
The platinum mining companies say the demands are unaffordable.
A company source said on Friday that workers were increasingly abandoning the strike as financial pressures on them mounted.
“We are seeing more people reporting for work, and we are getting flooded by messages from employees who want to return. Unfortunately, violence and intimidation continue.”
On Wednesday, shortly before midnight, attackers burnt down a shack in Thekwana, near Rustenburg, and attacked an Amplats rockdrill operator and his girlfriend. Both were treated at the scene by paramedics.
“The [assailants told] the man that, despite being warned repeatedly not to go to work, he was still doing so,” said police spokesman Thulane Ngubane. “This incident once again proves that workers are being intimidated, and become victims of crime if they go to work.”
Impala spokesman Johan Theron said negotiations had “essentially deadlocked”, but the company remained open to finding a negotiated resolution.
“However, we can only engage Amcu on demands that are affordable and will not result in irredeemable damage to the company and result in large-scale job losses.
“To this end, we are communicating directly with our employees to explain our position, and implore them to moderate their demands to a settlement zone that is affordable in line with our revised offer.”
Impala sent all nonstriking workers on paid leave when the strike started, to ensure their safety.
Since the strike started, workers have lost R4-billion in earnings and the companies R9.3-billion, according to data provided by producers.
Impala’s share price has fallen 6% and Lonmin’s 12%. Amplats, which has been least affected by the strike as its mines outside Rustenburg continue to operate, gained 9% since workers downed tools in January.