JOHANNESBRURG (miningweekly.com) – All mining stakeholders would be convened on July 3 to sign off on the collaborative draft document on ensuring peace and stability in South Africa's mining sector, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said on Friday.

“I can assure you that on July 3, all parties will sign off on the document,” the Deputy President, who was speaking at an Alexander Forbes forum, said in response to Mining Weekly Online’s questions (see also video attached).

On the vexing issue of migrant labour, he said mining houses were mooting major changes to the migrant labour system, which was seen to be at the root of many of the mining industry’s current problems.

An example of a possible new working arrangement was the possibility of migrants working eight weeks on and two weeks off, instead of the current 12 months on and two weeks off.

Currently, mineworkers only spent a fortnight a year with their families in rural areas before returning for another 12-months stint.

In terms of the possible new work arrangement, mines would provide transport in place of paying living-out allowances.

Those opting for living-out allowances often move into near-mine informal settlements, where there is a tendency to start second families.

Many also become clients of loan sharks, who do not adhere to banking rules, which sometimes puts workers into a form of debt bondage.

Motlanthe said changes to the migrant labour system would go a long way towards eliminating the social problems that were negatively impacting the mining industry.

Government would, in turn, have to ensure that social infrastructure and amenities was provided in the labour-forwarding areas.

“So together we will go and ensure that there are clinics and schools,” the Deputy President added in response to Mining Weekly Online.

The document the government, business and labour have agreed to ratify on July 3 provides for the stabilisation of the troubled sector.

The industry’s stakeholders are also committed to continue to meet quarterly over the next 12 months, or as frequently as required, under the leadership of the Deputy President to ensure common action to address blockages and new issues should they arise.