NUM PWV region is opposed to Bright Alloys plans to retrench workers

Media Statement, 20 September 2023

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) PWV Region is strongly opposed to plans by the chrome and alloys mining company Bright Alloys to retrench more than 150 workers.

The NUM views the planned retrenchment as a ploy to dislodge black South African workers and introduce undocumented Chinese nationals.

This retrenchment plan is just a strategy to frustrate the South African workers and as the NUM PWV Region we are against it.

Bright Alloys issued Section 189 of the Labour Relations Act notifying and inviting the NUM to engage with regard to the retrenchment of workers, arguing business hardship.

As the union we are concerned about the total shutdown the company is implementing without any communication. As the situation stands, all the company lights have been switched off, all suppliers who have not supplied yet have been called for a refund, all contractors have been called to come onsite and collect their tools and all the Chinese executives are now under personal security moving around on firearms who claim about R10 000 a day. Eskom have called to isolate power and the water supply has been closed down. All the plc have been switched off i.e. Dryer plc, furnace plc and P2 & 3 plc.

Under normal circumstances, you cannot switch off the plc because they might lose the programme and never come back online.

While asking about this shutdown happening without communication the company served a notice for Section 189 to the union. The company implemented a shutdown before they notified us about retrenchment. 

As the NUM PWV Region we are concerned about how possible to retrench while they have just built a new chrome recovery plant that still waiting for commissioning as we speak 

Chinese are undermining even the laws of this country as they already operating the plant that still waiting to be commissioned. 

The engineer legal appointment 2.1 has issued a statement that the plant must not be operated as it is non-compliant. They have decided to connect it and operate it as it is still waiting for municipal approval.

The company is operating illegally because there is no air remission license, no environmental license and no export license.

There is no legal appointment to operate the SHEQ manager and no general manager. They have bought Bright Alloys as a smelter (processing plant) to produce Ferro Chrome but they are now defying that and exporting Chrome Ore.

They are buying Chrome Ore, Chrome Concentrate and Chrome Lumpy in huge tons from local mining companies like Samancor, Jubilee Metals and many other companies and export them to China. 

They buy it cheaply as if they are going to process it at Bright Alloys Krugersdorp and only export it illegally to China. 

There are a number of trucks offloading at Bright Alloys and loading at the same time to China. We are not even sure that they complying with export taxes. The problem with this company is two centres of power meaning that the Chinese have their own management team and the locals have their own management team. 

The company’s finance department is run by the Chinese and all the other senior management positions are headed by the Chinese. In fact, every non-Asian person is being overlooked by a Chinese national.

The company in its Section 189 notice to the union mentioned a R800 million loss which we believe is not true because the company only started operating in November last year. The company also utilises the services of about six(6) Chinese consultants who claim between R150 000 – R250 000 per month. 

Bright Alloys acquired a mine called Chetah Chrome at Burgersfort in Limpopo but up so far it is still not operational. Bright Alloys is said to have no money to secure jobs but has hired a Law firm to execute section 189 while it should have utilised its human resources department. 

Only the Chinese are privileged to access a Discovery Medical Aid while South Africans do not have such privilege.

For more detailed information, please contact:

Calvin Matheys, NUM PWV Regional Chairperson, 060 991 7888

Mlulameli Mweli, NUM PWV Acting Regional Secretary, 066 185 0235

The National Union of Mineworkers
7 Rissik Street.
Cnr Frederick Johannesburg
Tel: 011 377 2111 Cell: 083 809 3257
Twitter: @Num_Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/NUM/10086002340216