JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – A meeting between the Department of Labour (DoL), the platinum producers and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) started on Friday as government intervened in the latest labour dispute to hit South Africa’s mines.

The three strike-hit platinum producers, Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), Impala Platinum (Implats) and Lonmin, welcomed the hastily arranged mediation, proposed by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and led by Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant.

The meeting was initially postponed to a yet-to-be-determined date as AMCU obtained a mandate from its members to participate, however, DoL spokesperson Musa Zondi confirmed to Mining Weekly Online that the mediation, held at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, in Johannesburg, was under way.

Over 80 000 AMCU members downed tools on Thursday at the three platinum producers, demanding a wage of R12 500 a month, in a protected strike that could cost Lonmin and Impala about 3 100 oz/d and 2 800 oz/d in platinum production respectively.

Media reports of the strike turning violent had emerged on Friday – something that AMCU general secretary Jimmy Gama denied, stating that the strike was peaceful and no violent outbursts had been reported.

Motlanthe this week said that organised labour, organised business and government would “continue to valorise social dialogue”, guided by the principles of the Framework Agreement for a Sustainable Mining Industry, which committed government, organised labour and business to work together to restore peace and stability in the mines. AMCU had not signed the agreement.

Amplats CEO Chris Griffith, Implats CEO Terence Goodlace and Lonmin CEO Ben Magara reiterated that prolonged disruptions in the sector would further damage South Africa’s reputation as an attractive business and investment destination, result in a negative impact on the revenue flows at and sustainability of the platinum operations, and lead to job losses at a number of marginal mines and shafts.

“The mining sector in our country has been in turmoil and in some instances there has been lots of loss of life. Many people, including investors and rating agencies, are of the view that [the] mining industry is on a decline,” Motlanthe said at the annual organised labour conference of the National Economic Development and Labour Council on Wednesday.