/ 20 May 1999

BILLTON BARS ERWIN

MANAGEMENT at a Billiton’s Richards Bay Aluminium smelter plant in KwaZulu-Natal barred Trade and Industry Minister Alec Erwin from addressing 1200 workers, SABC radio news said on Wednesday. Erwin was invited to visit the plant by the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa. Numsa spokesperson Dumisa Ntuli said the company refused a request from workers that they be addressed by the former trade union organiser. Erwin was previously a Numsa education officer.