The sit-in at the Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum Mine in North West has entered its third day with miners calling on the Minister of Minerals Resources, Gwede Mantashe, to urgently intervene. More than 2200 miners staged a sit-in underground since Monday protesting against employee share schemes and pension funds, which they were entitled to before the mine was bought by Impala in July.

REASONS BEHIND THE SIT-IN 

National Union of Mineworkers said that the miners are demanding 100% medical aid coverage, living out allowances of R6 800, leave allowances, pension funds and the resignation of the general manager. Implats spokesperson Johan Theron, confirmed the sit-in and said that there has been several misinterpretation and misunderstandings including views that accumulated pension fund balances of employees can be paid out to employees. "Other misconception held by the principals behind the sit-in were that statutory taxation provisions should not apply to award bonus payments as well as concerns related to the historic employee profit share arrangement being converted at the election of employee into employee share ownership trust," Theron said, adding that the timing of the sit-in could hardly be worse, given the recent spate of job cuts announced in the mining industry linked to falling platinum group metal (PGM) prices. "This was well planned and well timed- to keep more than 2 200 miners underground for any period is not a trivial matter," said Theron.

SOME MIRES RESURFACES

Out of the 2205 miners who declined to come out after their night shift ended, 167 resurfaced yesterday mostly for medical reasons. Theron said their main concern was the well-being of the striking miners to safeguard the health and safety of all who may be participating voluntarily, or who may have been forced to remain underground against their will. "We urge all employees to avoid any involvement in these illegal protests. We will engage employees who engage in illegal activities and criminal acts decisively," said Theron.