Parliament, Cape Town - Those undermining the collective bargaining process in the mining industry should be dealt a “cruel blow”, Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu said on Wednesday.
Speaking during debate on her budget vote in the National Assembly, Shabangu did not elaborate on who exactly she was referring to.
“While we respect workers' inalienable right to strike, and the right to the freedom of association... we will not tolerate anarchy, violence, intimidation, and illegal strikes, which threaten not just our democratic freedoms, but also the sustainable growth and employment in a sector with so much to offer, not only in terms of retaining employment, but also in creating new jobs on a larger scale than would ordinarily would be the case,” she said.
Those who had signed the “Peace and Stability Framework” - which allowed for the co-existence of labour unions in the sector - should honour this agreement.
Mining bosses and unions, including rivals the National Union of Mineworkers (Num) and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), are signatories to the framework.
But, since the signing, members of both unions have been killed in North West, leading to a wildcat strike at the Lonmin platinum mine this month, which has since ended.
Shabangu said that despite the violent strikes and upheavals in the industry, there was hope for growth in the sector.
“South Africa has the world’s largest mineral endowment, with an estimated value of US3.8 trillion (about R37 trillion).
“These endowments, if properly exploited using the combination of appropriate policies and regulatory framework, such as we have, we are more than capable of breaking the back of the triple evils of poverty, unemployment, and inequality,” she said.
The minister referred to former ANC leader Oliver Tambo regarding the importance of educating the country's youth.
“This is the kind of spirit that we need to re-ignite among workers in the Rustenburg platinum belt and in the mining executives.”
She also referred to wage negotiations in the mining sector, currently underway.
“This year should be no different,” she said.
Shabangu called for responsible negotiations.
Decisions taken during the talks should ensure jobs were retained and more importantly, that stability was brought to the sector.
“Narrow interests” had to be set aside.
“We should all take responsibility and accountability for the success of these negotiations.
“For, if we do not grasp the nettle, we run the risk of losing jobs and further fuelling negative perceptions that are being used to run our country down at the most inopportune time.”
Shabangu also announced government would initiate a specific programme of action to deal with the “crisis perception” in the industry.
Government met with mining houses bosses on Friday to discuss the problems facing the industry.
“We agreed that the government side will be led by the National Treasury, the department of labour, and the department of mineral resources, while participation from the mining companies will be led by chairpersons of the boards and will also engage the leadership of trade unions,” said Shabangu.
The need for further engagement in the industry followed a year of crisis in the industry.
“This has arisen as a result of a crisis of perception of both our country and the mining industry, which invariably has an effect on, among others, the fluctuation of our exchange rate, the result of which we can ill-afford as a country,” Shabangu said.
The “programme of action” would culminate in a progress report which would be ready within a month.
Despite the acknowledgement that there were problems “bedevilling” the mining industry, Shabangu said there was no need for alarm.
Shabangu's announcement follows statements last week by President Jacob Zuma and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, who both expressed concern about labour tensions and the adverse effect it has on the economy and job creation. - Sapa