JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) - To create a mining industry in South Africa where peace and stability reigned supreme, the leadership of sector role-players would collectively and publicly denounce violence, intimidation, and lack of respect for life and property.
This was one of the strategies agreed to by Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu, mining sector stakeholders from the Chamber of Mines, organised labour and the management of miner Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) to ensure productivity in the South African mining industry going forward.
The pronouncement of the strategies followed two meetings earlier this week between Shabangu and sector stakeholders in response to a violent incident at Amplats’ Union and Amandelbult mining operations, in Rustenburg, this week.
The company restarted production at the operations on Wednesday after employees staged a one-day work stoppage on Tuesday following the injury of 15 employees in an inter-union dispute on Monday.
Other strategies that were identified to encourage growth in the mining industry, included that the leadership would collectively and publicly call for respect for the laws of the country and for different viewpoints.
The stakeholders also agreed to collectively and publicly commit to ensuring and promoting peace and stability by refraining from intimidation and violence, honour existing and future agreements and policies, and be willing to be held accountable for all actions and utterances, while refraining from inflammatory language.
The parties would abstain from carrying or harbouring weapons on company property at any time. To resolve disputes, the parties would also act in accordance with the law, existing agreements, processes and communication channels.
IMPLEMENTATION
To achieve and implement these objectives, the leaders of the various stakeholders would actively engage with their constituencies, the public, mine security and the South African Police Service, as well as investors through various platforms, including meetings with members and the media and roadshows to communicate their commitments.
Further, the involved companies and unions that did not have a Code of Conduct in place may have to sign such an agreement to regulate the daily interaction level between companies and workers to build mutual trust and respect in the workplace.
During the next fourteen days, the stakeholders would continue to engage each other to put the necessary structures, processes and timeframes in place to ensure commitment, adherence and implementation of the objectives.
The local mining industry had been plagued by violence and intimidation for some time, with production at some mines coming to a standstill, resulting in production losses, as well as lost income for employees. This has tarnished the sector’s image and investor confidence.