By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE)-listed Wesizwe Platinum says employees have embarked on an illegal sit-in at the Bakubung platinum mine, in North West.
“The sit-in commenced on Wednesday December 6 2023 at or about 8.26am when employees chose not to return to surface at the end of their shift,” the platinum producer, valued at about R730m on the JSE, said.
Wesizwe says its management is meeting with local union representatives with the purpose of returning all employees back to surface.
At the end of November, Wesizwe’s share price fell by more than 13% after the company announced that its subsidiary Bakubung Minerals would start consultations with organised labour and other stakeholders on the possible restructuring of the mine operations.
This follows board approval of changes from a hybrid mining method to bord and pillar mininng at Bakubung, which will result in a reduced number of employees being needed to establish and maintain the required production profile in the business plan.
The need to reduce headcount is being compounded by the downturn in the mining industry, as well as a recent five-week unprotected strike by employees which adversely affected the mine development progress at Bakubung.
Wesizwe said up to 571 employees could potentially be retrenched, since continuing with the current headcount of 761 employees would not be reasonable if Bakubung is to be placed on a path of profitability and growth.
July Radibe, National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Rustenburg Regional Chairperson said they want to engage with mine management over their demands.
“We stepped in and assisted members when they were embarking on an unprotected strike based on the wage demand and the other issues that are of bargaining.
“So, what provoked our members to stage underground is that we have a peace accord that we got a month or two months ago that the CCMA says the Bakubung management and NUM go and sit around the table and entertain issues or the demand [by the ] employees. Since then till now we’ve been trying to get hold of the management and with no luck,” Radibe said.
This protest unfolds against a somber backdrop, as the mining sector recently mourned the death of thirteen miners in an accident at the Impala Platinum Mine in Rustenburg.
The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, along with Implats, the mine operator, has pledged to launch a public inquiry into the cause of the accident.