Sibanye-Stillwater must come out, tell South Africans if they are still interested in mining

Media Statement, 11 April 2024

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is not surprised by Sibanye Stillwater’s plans to retrench about 4 000 mineworkers. This is capitalist barbarism at its best.

Sibanye-Stillwater has been retrenching workers every year with the intention of cutting costs and making huge profits at the expense of mineworkers. We are indeed very shocked by this intention. It is very shocking in the sense that the gold price is high, and we are also questioning the timing of this announcement especially as we are about to enter into wage negotiations with the company.

The retrenchment of 3 107 mineworkers and about 915 contractors is a huge number. This is brutality at its best. We are indeed ready to participate and constructively engage the company to minimise job losses during the sixty days of consultative meetings under the auspices of the CCMA.

We are calling for the Sibanye-Stillwater top management and the CEO Neal Froneman to resign as they are unable to stabilise and run the mining company. The NUM is sick and tired of retrenchments every year.

It is now a time for Sibanye-Stillwater to tell the nation whether they are still interested in mining in South Africa.

For more detailed information, please contact:

Mpho Phakedi, NUM Deputy General Secretary, 082 882 3452
Livhuwani Mammburu, NUM National Spokesperson, 083 809 3257
Luphert Chilwane, NUM Media Officer, 083 809 3255

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