Rustenburg - Workers were expected return to work at Northam Platinum's Zondereinde mine in Northam on Tuesday night, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said.
“#NorthamPlatinum hundreds of #NUM members agree they will report back to work, starting on night shift today,” the union tweeted after a mass meeting with members.
The union said workers welcomed reports that they would be paid for the eight days lost last week, during a work stoppage.
Underground operation were halted on June 5 after an NUM member, Mthetheleli Somaxhama, 45, was gunned down in Northam town about 20km from the mine operation. His death triggered sporadic violence, resulting in the death of Thembinkosi Mhlabeni, 52, who was stabbed to death on the morning of June 6, when members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) clashed with NUM members at the boom gate near the R510 road between Northam and Thabazimbi.
Two cars were also torched. It was believed the violence was caused by a turf war between NUM and Amcu.
The NUM is the majority union with 80 percent of the workforce, while Amcu has 6,7 percent of the workforce at Northam Platinum.
The company said it would only be in position to confirm a return to work with the start of the shift on Tuesday night.
Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane visited Zondereinde mine on Tuesday, as part of his ongoing intervention to restore peace and stability. Northam CEO Paul Dunne said weekend talks between the parties continued on Monday and Tuesday.
He said management had again called on all parties to return to work in the shortest possible time, so that underground operations could be resumed. “A swift return to work would be in the best interests of all parties,” he said.
ANA