By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The management of Impala Bafokeng Mine in Rustenburg has agreed to withdraw the suspension notices that were issued to the 38 employees who were seen to have been involved in coordinating a sit-in underground at the Bafokeng North and South shafts.
More than 2 200 platinum miners staged an underground protest in December, over grievances relating to shares.
Management has offered everyone the opportunity to make specific representations to defend and or mitigate their actions, an Implats spokesperson said.
The National Union of Minewokers (NUM) said in a statement that Implats has agreed to revisit and re-engage the union on all issues that were covered in the demands raised by the workers once the situation has stabilised.
In the meantime, the NUM has called on all its members to resume work.
“We remain open to constructive engagement but hold firm that this can only be successfully conducted in an enviroment where statutory safety and labour requirements are upheld,” Implats emphasises.
All other issues will be further communicated once the employer has put them in writing on January 9, NUM avers.
Though this could be seen as big victory for NUM and the workers at the company, it will serve as comfort for union member in Gauteng’s gold reef who were fired being involved in another mine sit-in.
This after Gold One Modderfotein East Mine in Springs, Ekurhuleni, dismissed four hundred mineworkers after they were involved in two hostage situations that took place at the mine in 2023.