Share

Strikes catch miners off guard

Johannesburg - Susan Shabangu, the Mineral Resources Minister, said the country's mining companies were "caught napping" by the series of strikes in the platinum sector, and has promised to apply the terms of the updated mining charter with greater force.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Shabangu criticised mining companies for failing to anticipate a "complete twist" in labour relations. She added the mining charter had been treated like a "gentleman's agreement".

She also believed the industrial action, which resulted in Anglo Platinum (Amplats) yesterday suspending production at five of its six shafts in the Rustenburg region, was becoming a trend.

“We had already noticed that we need to be tough when we decided to review the (mining) act but, with Marikana, it’s like justifying the reason to be tougher,” Shabangu told the Financial Times.

“We are going to regulate it (the mining charter) now. We were avoiding that because we thought we were dealing with adults, mature people who understand. We will make it to be enforced, and if not, serious penalties must happen,” she said.

Government's voice has largely been muted throughout the strike action which has its roots in a six-week strike in March when the Associated Mineworkers & Construction Union (Amcu) led a violent strike at Impala Platinum.

However, Shabangu told the newspaper that government was taking action in association with the mining industry.

“We are engaging with them (the miners) through the Department of Labour, but the biggest challenge is to be able to say what are the other issues,” she said.

Shabangu added: "This is a country which has a history of mining and it’s not a good history because it’s a history of mining which never cared.

“And that history has to be changed. Any individual who wants to come into this space and invest has to come with a different mindset.”

Tensions in the industry have also been stoked further by expelled ANC youth league leader Julius Malema who has vowed to make mines "ungovernable".

But Shabangu dismissed Malema as a “rabble-rouser” and reiterated the government’s stance on nationalisation, saying it was "no longer a factor" for the ANC.

For more mining news go to MiningMX.com


*Follow Fin24 on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and Pinterest.


 
We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
19.00
-0.5%
Rand - Pound
23.95
-0.2%
Rand - Euro
20.50
-0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.35
+0.0%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.5%
Platinum
895.30
-0.2%
Palladium
991.47
-1.0%
Gold
2,193.25
-0.1%
Silver
24.44
-0.8%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
67,836
+0.2%
All Share
74,046
+0.2%
Resource 10
56,127
+0.8%
Industrial 25
103,468
+0.2%
Financial 15
16,484
-0.2%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders