SELLWANE KHAKHAU

The number of Kumba Iron Ore miners facing retrenchments has risen to over one thousand.

This comes after the mine served the National Union of Mineworkers (NUW), with section 189 yesterday (16 July), to shut down one of their operations, Thabazimbi, in Limpopo.

More than 870 miners stand to be affected.

Last week the mine hit the union with the same section, to retrench over 170 miners at two of their operations in the Northern Cape, Kolomela and Sishen respectively.

NUM’s Chief Negotiator at Kumba, Lucas Phiri, says they have called for an urgent intervention from mineral resources minister, Ngoako Ramatlhodi.

“Enough is enough. The retrenchments have recorded very high. We believe that the department of mineral resources must take responsibility and provide leadership. We cannot afford a situation where when mines do not produce; the solution turns out to be retrenchment of miners. ”

Phiri added that they are prepared to fight tooth and nail- and possibly go on strike, to ensure that the miners are not retrenched unreasonably.

sellwane@centralmediagroup.co.za