JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The emerging Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) has now signed the peace and stability framework drawn up for the labour-ravaged South African mining industry.

Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu reconvened on Monday to assure full-house agreement by all main mining stakeholders – the Chamber of Mines, the South African Mining Development Association and organised labour made up of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), UASA, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, Solidarity and now also AMCU, the former absentee.

Monday’s meeting followed three meetings last week, with the latest considering AMCU inputs.

“All stakeholders have agreed to the framework and signed,” the Ministry said in a media release, adding that stakeholders had collectively committed to the framework’s implementation.

All workers have been asked to refrain from violence, intimidation, illegal gatherings and strikes as leaders work to normalise the working environment and officials are hammering out a detailed implementation action, on which a report back will take place as soon as possible.

AMCU president Joseph Mathunjwa described the framework for peace and stability in the mining industry as a positive stepping stone towards addressing socioeconomic challenges facing the working class, subsequent to identifying the root causes of the mining instability and violence.

“This framework will be communicated to our membership at large in order to allow their inputs in shaping the peace accord,” he added.

NUM president Senzeni Zokwana said the signing of the framework had laid the foundation for all stakeholders to participate in realising peace and stability in the industry.

Chamber of Mines VP Mike Teke said it was a major achievement towards enhanced collaboration.

Minority union UASA platinum sector manager Alwyn van Heerden saw it as a starting point for all future engagements between stakeholders, and Solidarity’s Leigh MacMaster said his union was pleased that all stakeholders were committed to crafting a framework which would ultimately lead to long-term sustainability, growth and the creation of employment.

"We have made significant progress and we appreciate the constructive engagement of stakeholders, consistent with the well-entrenched culture of collaboration that characterises the mining industry stakeholders. Our work is intended to stabilise the mining industry and will position the industry along the trajectory of sustainable growth and respond to the global market conditions," said Shabangu.