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 progresses.
The pronouncement of the strategies followed two meetings between Shabangu and sector stakeholders in response to a vio- lent incident at Amplats’ Union and Amandelbult mining operations, in Rustenburg, last week.
The company restarted production at the operations, after employees had staged a one-day work stoppage, following the injury of 15 employees in an interunion dispute at the beginning of last week.
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.
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 to being held accountable for all actions and utterances, while refraining from inflammatory language.
The parties would refrain 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.
To achieve and implement these objectives, the leaders of the vari- ous 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 might have to sign such an agreement to regulate daily interaction between companies and workers to build mutual trust and respect in the workplace.