AMCU and Magara blamed for Marikana retrenchments

Trade union Solidarity is laying the blame for the looming job cuts at Sibanye-Stillwater’s Marikana operations squarely at AMCU and former Lonmin CEO Ben Magara’s doorstep. This follows the mining company’s announcement yesterday that it plans to let go of 5 270 workers and contractors in Marikana starting this December.

Gideon du Plessis, General Secretary of Solidarity, says employees affected by the retrenchments are paying the price for AMCU’s five-month strike in 2014 and what he describes as mismanagement by former Lonmin CEO Ben Magara.

“Magara was more focused on keeping AMCU happy than focusing on the mines’ sustainability and effective management. As a result, Sibanye-Stillwater now has to deal with Magara’s mess, and innocent employees have to pay the price,”

Solidarity adds that retrenchment notice from Sibanye-Stillwater came as no surprise and that it will do everything in its power to prevent retrenchments on the whole and particularly those that may take place before the end of this year.

“It would be insensitive if any employee has to receive a Christmas present in the form of a retrenchment package from Sibanye,” Du Plessis concluded.

For its part, AMCU has released a statement acknowledging that it had been made aware of the plan to effect retrenchments and that it will comment comprehensively on the issue at a later stage.

Read: More than 5000 Marikana jobs in danger

Meanwhile, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has issued a statement expressing its concern over the looming job cuts.

“It is disheartening, in these tough economic times when the country is faced with increased unemployment, to hear of potential job losses at Sibanye-Stillwater. ” says the department which goes on to urge all the parties involved to “act responsibly and with due care as they deal with this sensitive matter, which involves the livelihoods of employees and their immediate families.”

Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe is yet to comment on the proposed job cuts.