The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) would on Wednesday stage a march in the platinum district of Rustenburg to protest against what it called Anglo Platinum’s (Angloplat’) “narrow social and labour plans”.

The march, which would start at 15:30, was not intended to interrupt shifts or production, but “to get the message across”, said NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka.

Seshoka explained that the mineworkers would demand that Angloplat fully implement the contents of the social and labour plans negotiated last year with the Chamber of Mines.

Of particular concern was the lack of development of infrastructure in the labour-sending areas of the Eastern Cape and Limpopo, where the majority of workers in the area were said to come from.

It was felt that the company’s budget was being used to develop the Rustenburg area and neglected areas where workers originated from. Development of infrastructure such as roads, water and sanitation services, electricity, and housing were needed in these areas.

Angloplat spokesperson Simon Tebele said that discussions were under way regarding the labour sending areas.

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