JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The Department of Labour (DoL) on Thursday denied claims by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), which is currently striking at operations belonging to the world’s top three platinum producers, that it intended to deregister the union.

The deregistration allegations were made by AMCU president Joseph Mathunjwa during an interview with the South African Broadcasting Corporation, following a letter from the department’s labour relations registrar’s office asking questions about the union’s compliance with legal requirements and its own constitution.

However, the DoL said these questions were routine and were often asked as part of the department’s process of monitoring legal compliance in terms of Section 100 of the Labour Relations Act (LRA). 

“The LRA requires every registered trade union to provide the registrar with audited financial statements and other legal requirements. The registrar may also ask for an explanation of anything relating to the auditor’s report or the financial statements of such [a] union,” the DoL said.

It stated that the department was, therefore, not singling out AMCU.

“Moreover, an investigation by the department does not necessarily lead to [the] cancellation of the registration of a trade union,’’ the DoL said in a statement.

The department also pointed out that it had reassured AMCU that its request was not related to its efforts to assist in the negotiations between the union and platinum producers Anglo American Platinum, Impala Platinum and Lonmin, adding that it would invite AMCU to a meeting to discuss the matter and clarify any misunderstanding that might exist.

AMCU, which had been on strike at the platinum producers since January 23, was still demanding an entry-level salary of R12 500 a month for its members.

Talks, led by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration in an attempt to end the strike, adjourned last week after the platinum producers said that they had reached "no settlement" with the union’s negotiators.

However, the miners this week continued to meet with independent mediators in an attempt to find a solution.