World number one platinum producer Anglo American Platinum said on Monday it would seek an injunction to force miners to return to work after they refused to go underground at a South African mine last Thursday.
Some 2 000 out of a workforce of about 4 500 downed tools at Angloplat’s Bafokeng Rasimone mine north west of Johannesburg after a conveyor belt that transports them underground broke down.
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) says the miners will not return to work until the company fixes the belt or increases by R20 an eight rand inconvenience fee they are paid for walking up to 180 metres underground.
The NUM says 3 000 workers are on strike, compared to the company’s figure of 2 000. ”The company held a meeting with the NUM on Saturday and we gave them a note indicating that we will apply for an interdict which will force them to go back to work,” said Angloplat representative Mike Mtakati.
”We have indicated to the NUM that the work stoppage is illegal.”
Angloplat will seek the injunction in a Johannesburg court this week.
NUM representative Moferefere Lekorotsoane said the miners did not consider the stoppage a strike. ”We understand it as workers saying this is not on. Fix the conveyor belt, and if not then increase the inconvenience fee.”
Mtakati said it was too early to tell how the work stoppage had affected production at the mine, which produced 70 000 ounces of platinum in the first six months of this year. Angloplat produced 2,1-million ounces in 2001.
”We are still looking at the figures, but we don’t expect this action to have a serious impact on production,” he said.
Shares in Angloplat, 59,6% owned by Anglo American, were 2,7% or R10 lower at R364 at 0945 GMT, underperforming a 0,52% rise in world number two platinum producer Impala Platinum. – Reuters