Mine loses R20m from strike

JOHANNESBURG – A strike at South Africa’s Modikwa platinum mine that continued yesterday has resulted in a loss of 25 000 tonnes of ore worth around 20 million rand, joint owner African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) said.

“I think we’ve lost 25 000 tonnes and the revenue of that is on the order of 20 million rand,” Chief Executive Andre Wilkens said. Wilkens said he hoped a process would be hammered out later on Monday to end the strike by around 3 000 members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), which started on Friday.The strike at the mine, jointly owned by ARM and Anglo Platinum Ltd, was caused by disputes over benefits and allegations of racial discrimination.”A number of the issues raised have actually been resolved and there are a few issues still being discussed and I’m confident that we are going to find a resolution during the day,” Wilkens said.The NUM was not immediately available for comment, but said on Friday that racial discrimination was a problem at the mine and had helped spark the strike.Nampa-ReutersWilkens said he hoped a process would be hammered out later on Monday to end the strike by around 3 000 members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), which started on Friday.The strike at the mine, jointly owned by ARM and Anglo Platinum Ltd, was caused by disputes over benefits and allegations of racial discrimination.”A number of the issues raised have actually been resolved and there are a few issues still being discussed and I’m confident that we are going to find a resolution during the day,” Wilkens said.The NUM was not immediately available for comment, but said on Friday that racial discrimination was a problem at the mine and had helped spark the strike.Nampa-Reuters