Government, business and labour on Friday reported more progress towards making South African mining a better business in order to fulfil the requirements of the framework agreement struck in July.

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, who commands huge respect in industry circles, is leading the Framework Agreement for a Sustainable Mining Industry, which requires the who’s who of the industry to meet on an ongoing basis.

It is a process rather than a single event and at its latest high point, both the Chamber of Mines and the South African Mining Development Association – which represent business – reported the initiation of processes aimed at unravelling the issues dogging South Africa’s migrant labour legacy to allow mineworkers to spend adequate time with their families.

Migrant labour angst was at the heart of the Marikana tragedy and the industry is going all out to normalise the abnormal lifestyle of mineworkers.

Both government and business have committed money and land for human settlement infrastructure in the troubled Rustenburg platinum belt and the chamber reported continuing transformation of old-style hostels into decent living accommodation.

Efforts are also continuing to improve financial literacy to reduce the worrying indebtedness of mineworkers and education facilitation is under way, in line with commitments made four months ago when parties agreed short-, medium- and long-term measures to put mining on a growth footing.

The chamber has established relations with Further Education and Training colleges for mineworker training.

The newly formed mine crime-combating forum is working with the South African Police Service to maintain law and order and government has incorporated the Brits, Mankwe and Rustenburg areas into the Bafokeng Magisterial District to facilitate the acceleration of violence-related court cases.

The Council for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration has conducted a series of training sessions to educate union members on best labour practice.

Cosatu, Fedusa and Nactu represented trade union federations and the National Union of Mineworkers, Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, United Association of South Africa and Solidarity represented labour unions.

All parties reaffirmed their commitment to continue working together to stabilise the mining sector and set it on a sustainable footing.
The framework agreement commits to transforming the industry from its nefarious past into its world-benchmarked future.