With Amplats mineworkers having returned to work, the Chamber of Mines (CoM) has come out saying it understands the government's frustration with Amplat's restructuring plans, as they come at a time when the country should be creating more jobs.
It says the latest developments at Amplats are a sign that the country's platinum sector is under severe pressure.
Amplats plans to close four shafts at its Rustenburg operations and retrench up to 14 000 workers. The government and unions are not pleased with the company's plans.
Speaking on SAfm's AM Live this morning, the chamber's Vusi Mabena said: “It is understandable that the minister (Susan Shabangu) becomes so angry when the announcement is made, to go and inform the partners that the sector is under serious duress.”
He said it is not surprising to see these kinds of developments taking place “because the platinum sector is currently severely under stress because of too much supply in the international market.”
Mabena further refuted reports that Amplats said 14 000 mine workers were going to be retrenched, saying the mine has actually said the jobs were in danger.
“Anglo Platinum at the moment has actually said it intends to cut jobs and is actually putting up the necessary notice so that it can go into extensive consultation. It has not said, ‘We will retrench 14 000 (workers). It said there are 14 000 jobs that are in danger’.”
