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.