Lonmin Update: Attendance Figures/Update

Attendance today: We have a 6.5% average attendance across all shafts this morning. We expect that employees are waiting for the outcome of the Peace Accord meeting.

Situation on the ground: A group of about 200 people gathered outside Eastern Platinum  hostel this morning and marched to the Saffy shaft to speak with management. The group warned management that workers would be threatened if they returned to work. The group has since dispersed. Management has reported this to the SAPS and formal charges have been laid. No incidents of violence have been reported and management is appealing to all stakeholders to remain calm. There is high visibility of mine security and SAPS in and around the mine property.

Peace Accord: The Peace Accord meeting was attended by all stakeholders yesterday, 3 September 2012, but all parties were not all able reach consensus by close of meeting. The talks will resume on  Wednesday 5 September @ 12h00 at Rustenburg Civic Centre, giving all parties time to regroup on the details of the Peace Accord and the Process Agreement.

The parties have remained committed to bringing peace and stability in the area as well as working together in finding lasting resolution to the matters in dispute. Once there is an outcome, the media will be informed.

Lonmin has committed to negotiating with its employees on real issues, but we need a peaceful environment to do so.

While Lonmin has committed to negotiating with our employees on real issues, we are bound by legal frameworks on workplace conditions. So negotiations on real issues need to take place within those frameworks.  

An indefinite strike will ultimately threaten the jobs of more than 40,000 workers. We cannot go on indefinitely without normalising operations and still escape the consequences of the mine not being operational.

Statement issued by Lonmin, September 4 2012

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter