Strike ends at Harmony Gold's Kusasalethu mine

Harmony Gold mine Kusasalethu in Carletonville. Photo: Supplied

Harmony Gold mine Kusasalethu in Carletonville. Photo: Supplied

Published Apr 6, 2017

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Johannesburg - Workers at Harmony Gold's

Kusasalethu mine west of Johannesburg have returned to

work, ending an illegal strike that started more than two weeks

ago, the company said on Thursday.

Kusasalethu, which employs about 4,500 workers, has been a

flash point for labour violence and strikes in recent years,

threatening the viability of the mine and underlining the social

risks of mining in South Africa.

"Unprotected industrial action affects the mine's viability,

its employees and their families," Harmony CEO Peter Steenkamp

said in a statement.

Workers downed tools on March 23 after the Association of

Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) encouraged the strike

in response to disciplinary procedures against 40 employees

following an illegal sit-in at Kusasalethu in January.

AMCU was not immediately available to comment.

Read also:  Illegal Amcu strike hits Harmony shares

Harmony Gold, which produced just over 124 000 ounces of

gold in the 2016 financial year at its Kusasalethu mine, said it

had lost between 10 and 15 days of production but was unable to

estimate the amount of ounces lost due to the strike. 

REUTERS

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