Johannesburg – More than 2 000 mineworkers remained underground long after their shifts ended in an “unprotected protest action” at Impala Bafokeng’s Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum Mine
“It is with grave concern Impala Platinum Holdings Limited (Implats or the Group) reports that the illegal underground protest at Impala Bafokeng remains unresolved,” said a statement released by mine authorities late Tuesday.
“As at 19:00, 167 employees had safely returned to surface and approximately 2 038 employees were still underground.”
The protest began at the operation’s Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum Mine on Monday morning, (18 December 2023), without the sanction of the operation’s representative union, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
The Group said its primary focus remains the health, safety, and security of its employees.
“Impala Bafokeng has implemented targeted emergency measures to safeguard the well-being of those participating in the illegal protest, voluntarily or under duress,” the statement said.
“In addition, support measures for concerned family members and friends have been introduced.
“The exits for both North and South shafts remain open and accessible, and assistance is available to employees electing to exit the shafts when they are ready to do so.”
At this stage, it appears the underlying source of contention, which has motivated the illegal underground protest is principally among employees and relates to several misinterpretations and misunderstandings brought to the fore by the recent change in ownership at Impala Bafokeng.
Ostensibly, these views are shared by those initiating the illegal protest action and include:
- The view that accumulated pension fund balances of employees can be paid out to employees
- A view that statutory taxation provisions should not apply to award and/or bonus payments
- Concerns pertaining to the historical employee profit share arrangement being converted, at the election of employees, into an employee share ownership trust.
“Implats is doing everything in its power to secure the safety, health and wellbeing of its Impala Bafokeng employees who remain underground at both North and South shafts, to de-escalate the situation and create a pathway to constructive engagement,” the statement continued.
Impala Bafokeng management has facilitated underground access for the regional leadership of the NUM to engage with its members and is working with the union leadership toward a resolution to the protest action.
“The illegal underground protest is not just endangering lives, but livelihoods, the Implats statement said.
“Given prevailing low platinum group metal (PGM) prices, the financial sustainability of the broader PGM industry is at risk.
“This illegal protest action serves to aggravate this position at Impala Bafokeng, adding unnecessary additional pressure on the operation and, as such, its ability to sustain employment.”
