/ 30 May 2013

Sibanye Gold to let go of 1 110 workers

Sibanye Gold chief executive Neal Froneman.
Sibanye Gold chief executive Neal Froneman.

Up to 3 000 jobs could be cut at Beatrix West after a fire caused the mine to shut down in February, Business Day reported on Thursday.

Sibanye Gold chief executive Neal Froneman said 1 110 jobs would be cut with 330 workers developing and opening new areas of the mine being affected.

Another 780 jobs would be cut from the entire Beatrix mining operation in the Free State, it was reported.

Sibanye Gold was formed when Gold Fields unbundled three old deep-level gold mines in South Africa into a listed company.

"A lot of positive things can happen, but the companies can't keep taking risks and being charitable institutions, because it has knock-on effect on the rest of the business," Froneman told the newspaper.

He praised the unions, including the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, for playing their part in keeping the mine open, it was reported.

"We did it by the book. The unions came up with some solutions and we were flexible in our thinking. This is the end result," Froneman was quoted as saying. – Sapa