Billiton has slammed as ”untrue and irresponsible” the National Union of Mineworkers’ (NUM) claims of racism at its manganese mine in the Northern Cape.
The NUM has charged that black workers had to walk 2km to the nearest bus stop, while employees of other races were collected at their homes.
BHP Billiton, meanwhile, claimed that instead of picking up employees at their homes, the company had recently instituted a centralised pick-up point.
The change was ”in the interests of the safety of the community and its children”, said Billiton spokesperson Bronwyn Wilkinson. The move affected 30 to 50 of the company’s 1 200 employees.
About 500 BHP Billiton Samancor workers downed tools on Monday in protest against the alleged discrimination. The strike would continue until management ”came back to its senses”, NUM branch secretary Reginald Segeri said on Monday.
Wilkinson said that although mine operations were continuing, the strike had affected production ”to some degree”. She said non-striking workers were being intimidated by people picketing at the mine entrance. — Sapa