Call for clarity on State mining firm as conflict of interest concerns persist

Despite assurances from the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) and State-owned mining company African Exploration, Mining and Finance Corporation (AEMFC) that AEMFC is operating without exemption or preference and under fair market rules,...

Call for clarity on setup of State mining company as conflict of interest concerns persist

Despite assurances from the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) and the State-owned mining company the African Exploration, Mining and Development Corporation (AEMFC) that the AEMFC is operating without exemption or preference and under fair...

Anglo's struggle over platinum showcases sector woes

Miner Anglo American has made a priority of its struggling platinum business, admitting earlier this year that the world's largest primary producer is underperforming in the face of soaring costs, imposed safety stoppages and weak demand. But...

NUM threatens to intensify strike as Modikwa withdraws offer

Modikwa platinum mine, a joint venture between African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) and Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), has withdrawn from negotiations with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). The mine said on Wednesday that the protracted...

Striking Implats workers firm on demands

Striking workers at Impala Platinum's (Implats) Rustenburg operations vowed on Tuesday not to return to work unless their minimum pay demand was met. They went on strike five weeks ago, demanding that they be paid a minimum of R9 000 a month.

Researcher ‘cautiously optimistic’ about future PGM labour relations

Recent wage agreements between chief South African platinum producers and collective bargaining agent the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) have provided some cause for cautious optimism regarding future labour relations, asserts research firm...

NUM calls for technical audit as two more miners die

Two mineworkers died over the weekend at the Modikwa platinum mine – a joint venture between African Rainbow Minerals and Anglo American Platinum, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said. The union expressed concern over the...

Implats gives workers until Friday to reapply for jobs

Platinum mining company Impala Platinum (Implats) has given its dismissed workers until Friday to reapply for their jobs, spokesperson Bob Gilmore said. This was an agreement made during a meeting between the miner and the National Union of...

Iron-ore workers awash with cash as Kumba’s employee ownership scheme shoots the lights out

It was December 2005. I had driven to the old Iscor building in Pretoria to interview the team that had successfully unbundled two new companies out of the former State-owned integrated steelmaking corporation, Iscor. Even at that early stage,...

NUM agrees wage deal with Lonmin

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has accepted platinum miner Lonmin’s wage offer, spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka reported on Friday. The NUM said its members have “overwhelmingly” accepted Lonmin’s wage offer of 10% for category three...

6 000 worker shareholders become half millionaires overnight

Six thousand two hundred and nine worker shareholders of JSE-listed Kumba Iron Ore each became pretax half millionaires on Tuesday. The R2.7-billion payout is the first phase of employee share ownership plan (Esop) with the second five-year phase...

Northam seals two-year wage deal with NUM, Solidarity

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and Solidarity have reached a two-year wage agreement with JSE-listed Northam Platinum this week, following wage negotiations over the past five months. The average wage increases ranged from 9% to 9.5% in...