Sibanye CEO Neal Froneman
Photo by: Duane Daws
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Eleven Sibanye Gold employees were facing criminal charges after a joint investigation by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and Sibanye Gold Protection Services found them to be allegedly behind the inter-union conflict at the Beatrix mine last month.
The SAPS aimed to charge six employees with attempted murder and five with assault with the intent of grievous bodily harm after an alleged violent conflict between members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union and the National Union of Mineworkers resulted in nine employees sustaining injuries at Beatrix on February 5.
Sibanye suspended operations at Beatrix North and South shafts for two working days until the unions had committed to coexisting and working together in a conflict-free environment. Operations had resumed on February 9.
The violent outburst followed a Sibanye-authorised mass meeting by AMCU to obtain a mandate from members to sign the minority recognition agreement after recently meeting the minimum threshold at the operation.
“It is regrettable that this inter-union rivalry has resulted in criminal charges being brought against some of our employees,” Sibanye CEO Neal Froneman said.
The gold miner was considering potential legal recourse over damages owing to lost production of 804 oz/d of gold, equating to a loss of revenue of R11.5-million a day from the North and South sections.
However, Sibanye was confident of recovering the lost output during the course of the year.