Lonmin attendance at 4.5%

File picture - An unidentified mine worker sits on a rock at the Lonmin mine near Rustenburg. Picture: Themba Hadebe/AP

File picture - An unidentified mine worker sits on a rock at the Lonmin mine near Rustenburg. Picture: Themba Hadebe/AP

Published Sep 3, 2012

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Rustenburg - The attendance of Lonmin platinum mine's workforce was at 4.5 percent across all shafts on Monday morning, the company said in a statement.

“We expect that employees are waiting for the outcome of the peace accord meeting,” it said.

The meeting reconvened on Monday at the Rustenburg Civic Centre.

“(It) allows for a peaceful return to work and an environment in which the concerns of all stakeholders can be addressed,” said company spokeswoman Tanya Chikanza.

She said Lonmin hoped the meeting would result in stability at the mine.

“We are hoping a peace accord would be finalised today (Monday).”

The attendance of employees was down on last week, with eight percent of the company's 28 000 employees at work on Tuesday. This fell to 7.7 percent on Wednesday, and 6.6 percent on Thursday. It was 5.7 percent on Friday.

The meeting was convened by the labour department and the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.

Four unions - Solidarity, Uasa, the National Union of Mineworkers, and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union - were meeting worker representatives and Lonmin management in an attempt to reach a truce.

Workers at the world's third-largest platinum producer went on strike last month, demanding a monthly salary of R12 500. They vowed not to return to work until their demand was met.

The strike turned violent and 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed between August 10 and 12.

On August 16, 34 miners were killed and 78 wounded when police opened fire on them near the mine. - Sapa

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