Impala Platinum (Implats) and Anglo Platinum (AngloPlats) are losing tens of millions of rands per day as strike action by the National Union of Mineworkers continues.
Implats spokesperson Humphrey Olifant said on Monday the company was losing about R28-million a day due to the strike which started last Friday.
”Production has come to a standstill. We are losing about 3 000 ounces of platinum a day. It is very difficult to say how much we are losing but early estimation is R28-million per day.”
Olifant said 17 000 workers were involved in the strike. Implats and AngloPlats told Sapa on Monday they were not willing to revise their wage offer of 7,5%. NUM is demanding a 8,5% increase.
AngloPlats spokesperson Mike Mtakati said the offer included a housing subsidy.
”We told the union that this is our final offer and that we are open to talks — as long as the talks are not aligned with the revising of the wage offer.
”The sole purpose of this offer was because management wanted to avert the strike and it has done everything in its power to avoid it.”
Mtakati said about 30% of AngloPlats workers were on strike.
”This is between 10 000 and 15 000 of a total of 45 000 workers.”
Asked about the impact of the strike on production, Mtakati said: ”There has been a decrease in production but it is too early to say how big or how small the decrease has been. If it goes on for another week or two we will be able to quantify it.” – Sapa