Strike forces South African miner to suspend operations

South African miner Northam Platinum Limited on Friday temporarily suspended operations at the Zondereinde Mine due to rising tension caused by a strike since Tuesday.

About 5,000 employees who are members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) embarked on an unprotected strike on Tuesday in protest against unfair hiring and firing practices.

Only essential services employees will be expected to report for duty as per existing agreements, Northam Platinum said in a statement.

This decision has been taken amidst rising tension at the mine, owing to incidents of intimidation, assault and threats of violence towards nonstriking employees and damage to property, according to the company.

But NUM denied resorting to violence during the strike, saying violence was not its style. The union said the workers would not return to work if Chief Executive Officer Paul Dunne was not removed.

A large number of employees signalled a desire to return to work on Jan. 15 in line with the direction of the Labor Court.

"Zondereinde management continues to engage with the NUM in a bid to normalize operations as soon as possible and urges the NUM to take heed of the Peace and Stability Framework for the Mining Industry, signed in February 2013," Northam Platinum spokesperson Marion Brower said.

"At the same time, the company will follow disciplinary procedures in respect of employees who failed to heed the direction of the Labor Court to return to work. This could result in dismissals."

The Zondereinde Mine in Limpopo Province employs 6,600 permanent employees and 2,100 contractors.

The strike raised fears for a new round of labor unrest in South Africa which was hard hit by a series of strikes, particularly in the platinum sector last year. Endi