Johannesburg - Workers returned to Gold Fields' Beatrix one,
two and three shafts as expected on Wednesday after the company issued a final
ultimatum before firing them, a spokesperson said.
Wednesday's attendance was "full turn out," said
Willie Jacobsz.
On Monday the gold producer issued a final ultimatum to
workers at those shafts on a wildcat strike since September 24 saying that if
they did not come back they would be fired.
Up to 70% turned up en masse at the mine near Welkom in the
Free State, irrespective of their shift on Tuesday.
They were sent home and told to report according to the
shift roster on Wednesday.
The company also issued a final ultimatum to workers at the
KDC West mine near Carletonville, Gauteng, and Beatrix number four shaft to be
back at work by Thursday 2pm.
There was no sign of them yet.
"There has been a lot of informing and consultations
taking place. We can expect them tomorrow (Thursday) at best," Jacobsz
said.
The ultimatum did not apply to the 8 500 KDC East
mineworkers who went on strike on Sunday but the company has applied for an
interdict at KDC east declaring the strike unlawful.
Those who returned to work by the deadline would benefit
from an agreement reached under the auspices of the Chamber of Mines,
"notwithstanding that the offer has expired", Gold Fields CEO Nick
Holland said.
Gold Fields [JSE:GFI] had lost about R1.2bn in revenue and
65,000 ounces in gold production due to the strike.
The company had saved R900m in wages over the same period,
Holland said.
He said Gold Fields had been left with little option but to
issue the ultimatums, given the escalating violence among strikers. This
included intimidation, attempted murder, and damage to property.