[miningmx.com] – ANGLO American Platinum (Amplats) CEO, Chris Griffith, is the latest mining executive to voice optimism last week’s draft framework agreement intended to bind unions, government and industry to a new set of rules governing engagement would be signed by the parties later this month.
Earlier in the day, Jimmy Gama, treasurer for the Associated Mineworkers & Construction Union (AMCU) declined to comment on the prospect of his union signing the deal spearheaded by deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe on June 14. Asked by Miningmx for the union’s view on the document, Gama declined to comment.
The framework agreement sets down guiding principles for ensuring security, law and order on South Africa’s mines, as well as means for strengthening labour relations. A meeting to turn the draft agreement into a substantive pact is set for June 26.
“I think they (AMCU) will have to sign it,” said Griffith. “Whether it means a row of beans, we will see,” he added.
“I cannot promise you that because there is a signed agreement, the problems [on South Africa’s mines] will go away. But the government has finally decided to step in. People will have to go to jail,” Griffith said.
Speaking at a mining roundtable organised by Talk Radio 702 earlier in the day, Peter Leon, head of mining for Webber Wentzel, said there had been no prosecutions on any of South Africa’s mines despite fatalities owing to mine violence topping 50 souls.
The Farlam Commission which is investigating the Marikana atrocity in August has yet to run its proper course, and therefore prosecutions are held in abeyance pending an outcome, but lawlessness on the mines has provoked government to action.
Griffith said that the South African government had set the groundwork to decisively root out and prosecute individuals. “I don’t see the army coming on to the mines; it’s very unlikely there will be big shows of force,” he said. Griffith believed government, helped by the police services would surgically look to target individuals.
However, the source of mine violence was worryingly thrown into confusion at the mining roundtable when Frans Baleni, general-secretary, pointed the finger at ‘third forces’ interested in destabilising South Africa’s mining community.
Susan Shabangu, mines minister, alluded to a similar force in her address to the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) central executive committee meeting on May 24 which she described as “… wanting to realise one major objective: ultimately to defeat and dislodge the ANC from power …”.
Baleni said these other forces were emergent politicians and activists from the UK and the US. “We are under siege in terms of these external sources. We don’t think AMCU is capable of doing this [violence],” he said.
