Johannesburg - Fresh protests erupted on Tuesday at an
informal settlement near Impala Platinum's Rustenburg operations, police said,
the latest trouble at the world’s largest platinum mine, which was shut for six
weeks this year due to battles between rival unions.
A police spokesperson told Reuters that the roads leading
into the settlement were blocked by rocks and rubble. The area had been the
scene of violence and riots previously.
One person was shot last week during clashes between the
unions, the dominant National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the Association of
Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU).
Implats, the world’s second-largest platinum producer, lost
120,000 ounces in production during the last major flare-up at Rustenburg and
the spot price was pushed higher as the mine accounts for 15% of global output.
Chief Executive David Brown said the company would release a
statement later today.