/ 16 September 2009

DRDGold mines hit by pay strike

South Africa’s medium-tier gold producer, DRDGold, said on Wednesday a total of about 4 400 workers at two of its mines were on strike, and output at the operations had been affected.

DRDGold spokesperson James Duncan said about 3 900 members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) had stopped work at its Blyvoor mine on Tuesday night, while about 500 others had downed tools at its Crown mine on Wednesday morning over a pay dispute.

The two mines have a total of 5 200 workers, he said.

”Blyvoor’s production of new ore from underground is significantly affected, while output at Crown is partially affected,” Duncan told Reuters.

Duncan said gold plants at the mines would continue to run for now, processing ore already stockpiled on the surface. — Reuters