The world's top platinum producer, Anglo
American Platinum, has started disciplinary action including possible dismissal
against workers taking part in an illegal strike in South Africa, the company
said on Thursday.The company, a unit of global mining giant Anglo American,
also said that attendance at its four mines near Rustenburg, 120 km (70 miles)
northwest of Johannesburg, remained below 20 percent despite repeated threats
to get tough. A wave of wildcat strikes is roiling South Africa's mining
sector despite the end of an illegal six-week stoppage at platinum producer
Lonmin in which 46 people were killed. Amplats' chief executive Chris Griffith
said on Wednesday the company would start making good on threats to sack
workers if they did not report for duty within 24 hours.
“Despite repeatedly urging our employees to come back to work,
attendance at our Rustenburg operations remains low,” he said. “We have been
left with no choice but to initiate disciplinary action, which could lead to
dismissals.”
Rustenburg labour activist and community representative Mametlwe
Sebei struck a defiant tone, saying striking Amplats workers were not
intimidated by the ultimatum.
“No amount of threats are going to move our workers from their
demands,” he told Reuters.
The demands include an increase in a minimum monthly wage to
12,500 rand ($1,500), more than double that currently earned by those at the
bottom of the pay scale.
When rival Impala Platinum fired 17,000 illegal strikers in the
same area in January, it unleashed a wave of violence that closed its
Rustenburg operation, the world's largest platinum mine, for 6 weeks. Three
people were killed.
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