[miningmx.com] – SIBANYE Gold said its Kloof mine on the west Rand of Johannesburg had resumed production starting from the night shift of September 5 taking the group’s operations to over 80% of capacity.
This was after less than a fifth of Kloof’s workforce turned up at the first two shifts at after the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) had called a strike over wages, effective from the night shift of September 3.
The NUM is still the majority union at Kloof with Sibanye Gold’s other major operation, Driefontein, dominated by the Association of Mineworkers & Construction Union (AMCU). Beatrix is controlled by the NUM.
“Together with the Driefontein Operations, which have continued to operate normally through the strike, Sibanye Gold is now operating at over 80% of its planned capacity,” said Sibanye Gold in a statement to the JSE.
Sibanye Gold also confirmed growing anticipation in the gold industry that an annual wage settlement may not be far away. NUM said last night it was considering a new offer from employers.
“Engagement with NUM continues to be positive and the NUM will be meeting its members at the Beatrix Operations this morning. The market will be kept informed of further progress,” said Sibanye Gold of its Free State province mine.
