JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) on Thursday called on Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu to revoke Anglo American Platinum’s (Amplats’) licences at its Rustenburg operations.

AMCU president Joseph Mathunjwa told a media briefing on Thursday that Amplats’ licences should then be issued to interested local business owners to ensure mining operations proceeded without interruption.

This followed Amplats’ – the world’s biggest platinum miner – announcement on Tuesday of the outcome of its business review that proposed the closure of four shafts and the sale of its Union mine, which would result in the loss of 14 000 jobs.

Mathunjwa expressed shock at the announcement. “This happened despite the fact that we were on record with Amplats in December where we submitted 14 000 stop orders for members who had joined AMCU at the workplace.

“Our country is facing a high number of unemployed. Now for Amplats to shed so many jobs is a sign of it not having the interest of this country at heart. We reject this choice by Amplats and will do anything in our power to strongly oppose it,” he asserted.

Mathunjwa indicated that partial nationalisation would be an option to achieve this goal. “It might not be only one approach, but if Anglo persists in closing down mines, it will be a window for the government to take those mines and nationalise them and run them to save jobs.”

On Wednesday night, about 15 000 workers at Amplats’ Khomanani, Thembelani and Tumela mines, in Rustenburg, returned to work after downing tools on Tuesday night in protest against the proposed restructuring.

Mathunjwa warned that more protests were looming.

“Those things are to be discussed with our constituency; we will see which way is best to follow to try and minimise the impact of the retrenchments, but everything we do, we will do according to the law.”

However, he indicated that the proposed job losses were merely the symptoms of a bigger issue in the form of economic policies.

“Unless the economic policies of this country are changed to benefit the nation, the situation will continue.”

AMCU further called on government to come up with an industrialisation programme to promote local manufacturing and create jobs.

“We are sending raw products abroad where it is turned into [final] products and sent back; we are creating jobs for people in other countries. We must [process] the minerals within the country to stabilise it by creating more employment,” Mathunjwa urged.

He said AMCU planned on convening with its members at Amplats’ Rustenburg operations at the weekend to discuss the matters at hand and a way forward. He, however, pointed out to Mining Weekly Online that much of what would be discussed at the meeting would be dictated by a meeting between Amplats and the involved unions on Friday.

“Our position as AMCU is that no jobs should be lost. Let us rather engage on the process that would devise strategies on how to curb unnecessary costs to the company.”

He further said  that the union would compile a counterproposal to present to Amplats during the 60-day regulated consultation process, but pointed out that the mining company had “placed the cart before the horse”.

“They cannot just give 60 days; how do you reskill those workers [who will be retrenched]? They need to do that while they are still employed.

Mathunjwa also slammed Amplats CEO Chris Griffith’s statement that the company would create at least one non-mining job in housing, infrastructure and small business development for every mining job lost in its proposed downsizing.

“What jobs are these? Formal employment? They are going to try to come up with small- and medium-sized enterprises in a crowded, small space, I do not think that will fly.”

He proposed that a collective approach, involving all stakeholders, would be required to deal with the challenges facing South Africa’s mining sector.

“AMCU on its own will not be able to overturn Amplats’ decision. As long as foreigners run our economy, we are far from reaching a resolution. It is high time we, as a nation, stand together and find ways of ensuring that our mineral resources benefit the people of South Africa.”

Meanwhile, the union had applied for an interdict at the Johannesburg High Court against Harmony Gold denying workers entry at its Kusasalethu mine’s hostel. The loss-making mine had been temporarily closed in December, with the company citing strike action as hampering operations.

In January, Harmony said the mine would remain closed until it was able to operate safely and profitably.