[miningmx.com] – FRANS Baleni, general-secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), slammed the appointment of Mark Cutifani as CEO of Anglo American saying the group had failed again.
The UK-listed mining company had “missed yet another opportunity to appoint a black or even a white woman” to lead a global entity, the union said. It added that Anglo had shown a continued resistance to transformation.
“The mining sector remains lily white at the top and at board level with a sprinkle of black here and there,” said Baleni in a statement.
“Those who work underground are black and poor but those in higher offices are white and male” Baleni added.
The condemnation of the union, a key member of Cosatu which is part of the tripartite alliance, may come as a surprise to Anglo American’s top brass which told analysts today that it had received a positive response from the South African government regarding the appointment.
“Overnight, Anglo American has been in touch with the Minister of South Africa’s Department of Mineral Affairs (DMR),” said Peter Davey, an analyst at SBG Securites.
“According to Sir John Parker, there has been a positive response from the DMR and Mark’s appointment is expected to get the full backing from the South African government,” he said.
Baleni had a different view, however. “The appointment of yet another male reinforces the notion that leadership and management in the mining sector is the preserve that belongs to the old boys club,” said Baleni.
