Gold production was severely disrupted in parts of South Africa on Wednesday as thousands of mine workers downed tools to protest rising living costs, their union and management said.
The stayaway in three of the country’s nine provinces forms part of a build-up to a national strike organised by the Congress of South African Trade Unions to protest against soaring food and electricity bills.
National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said the strike would affect mines in the Free State — which produces about 30% the country’s gold output — as well as in the Northern Cape and Mpumalanga.
”In the Free State there is already a total shutdown,” Seshoka said.
Wednesday’s work boycott is part of a wider programme of industrial action that should culminate in a national strike on August 6.
”We want to send a very strong message that the poor are part of this society that puts electricity, food and everything beyond its reach,” said NUM general secretary Frans Baleni.
Rising costs of food and fuel, inflation and subsequent interest rates hikes have put pressure on the country’s poor.
Daniel Thole of Gold Fields, whose giant Beatrix mine is situated in the Free State, said two of its shafts were operating with 10% staff attendance, and one with 90% attendance.
”The NUM applied for a one-day political protest action at our Beatrix mine … There are some non-NUM members at work. Anyone with a mine in the Free State will be affected, it’s quite widespread.”
South Africa was recently overtaken by China as the world’s largest producer of gold. — Sapa-AFP