[miningmx.com] – SIBANYE Gold said it had suspended mining at its Beatrix North and South shafts in South Africa’s Free State province in an effort to restore calm after rival unions clashed resulting in injuries to nine employees.
The outbreak of violence followed a mass meeting held by the Association of Mineworkers & Construction Union (AMCU) which had recently been granted recognition at the mine.
“Sibanye management agreed to a request from AMCU to hold a mass meeting at Beatrix, on the afternoon of 5 February 2015, in order to get a mandate from its members for it to sign the minority recognition agreement,” said Sibanye.
“While AMCU members were gathering and preparing to proceed to the mass meeting, a conflict broke out between AMCU and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) members, which resulted in the above mentioned injuries,” it said.
“Sibanye management and members of the Sibanye Gold Protection Services (SGPS) intervened and separated the rival groups.
“Following the mass meeting, AMCU members were unable to return to their place of residence due to the risk of further conflict.
“Alternative accommodation was offered to the affected employees, but they declined the offer, preferring to gather outside the main gate at Beatrix”.
“The situation remains tense and management has decided to suspend operations at Beatrix North and South shafts while it attempts to restore calm and peacefully re-integrate the rival groups,” it said.
Said Neal Froneman, CEO of Sibanye: “I urge AMCU and NUM leadership to work together with us to intervene and normalise this situation in the interest of the safety of their members”.
