JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The Marikana and Kroondal platinum mines near Rustenburg in South Africa, would suffer a 15 000 oz production loss, as a result of an illegal strike by mining contractor Murray & Roberts Cementation workers.

The ASX- and JSE-listed mining company said 50% of the 15 000 oz was attributable the Aquarius.

Murray & Roberts Cementation on Wednesday dismissed 3 900 of its staff at these mines, where underground operations came to a standstill. The company started the rehiring process on Thursday.

Aquarius stated that the affected shafts were likely to restart operations on August 31, and would ramp up over a period of two weeks while further employees were engaged and deployed to the operations.

“The company regrets this outcome, but acknowledges that the process has been conducted in accordance with the Labour Relations Act,” Aquarius said in a statement.

The relining of the K2 mill has started and is scheduled for completion on September 1. This formed part of the group’s response to minimise the impact of the industrial action.

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