Johannesburg - Anglo American Platinum asked a judge to hold the biggest union at its mines in contempt, saying it ignored an order to stop using violence in an ongoing strike.
The application to the Johannesburg Labour Court today includes Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union President Joseph Mathunjwa and Treasurer Jimmy Gama, spokeswoman Mpumi Sithole said in an e-mailed response to questions.
More than 70,000 workers downed tools January 23, demanding Amplats, as the world’s biggest producer of the metal is known, Impala Platinum and Lonmin double salaries for the lowest-paid staff.
A worker was set alight yesterday on his way to an Amplats mine, where an Amcu official was shot dead this month.
At least four non-striking workers at a Lonmin mine were assaulted last week.
Amplats and Impala were granted an order on January 24 against the Amcu, compelling the union’s members to abide by picketing rules and refrain from using violence.
Lonmin was granted a similar request on February 14.
“Management is lying,” said Linga Matshini, a union official at Amplats’s Komanani mine who attended the court proceedings today.
“No one has intimidated anyone at the shafts. It has all been peaceful.”
Panga Wounds
An employee was set alight on his way to work at Amplats’ Union mine, South African Police Service spokesman Thulani Ngubane said by phone.
The man, a member of the Amcu’s rival labor group the National Union of Mineworkers, was discharged from hospital today after being treated for burns and wounds from a panga, a kind of machete, union spokesman Livhuwani Mammburu said by phone.
“The situation is becoming very dangerous,” Mammburu said.
“It is really totally unacceptable.”
South Africa contributes more than 70 percent of global output of platinum, used in jewelery and catalytic converters for vehicles. Companies have lost more than 4.4 billion rand ($400 million) in sales since the start of the strike, the three producers said in a joint statement on February 19.
The employers have offered wage increases of as much as 9 percent.
A growing number of Impala Platinum employees have “signaled they are ready to accept the employers’ offer and return to work,” company spokesman Johan Theron said in an e- mailed response to questions today.
“Hopefully this will influence the position of the union leaders, and lead to real substantive engagements that will resolve the current impasse.” - Bloomberg News