JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Northam Platinum on Tuesday said the civil unrest in Steelpoort had affected operations at its Booysendal mine.
The company said the protests by community members in the Steelpoort valley were impacting the company’s production, as protestors had been blocking roads and disrupting transport, which prevented employees from getting to work.
There had also been incidents of damage to the Lebalelo pipeline, which supplied water to eastern limb operations.
While mining operations had been disrupted, milling from the surface stockpile would continue, the company noted.
On Monday, Mineral Resources Minister Advocate Ngoako Ramatlhodi appealed for calm in the area. He condemned acts of violence and intimidation associated with the protests.
The Minister would visit the area on Tuesday after being asked to intervene by the communities and the mines in the area and to determine the reason for the protests.