Amplats sues Amcu leaders for contempt

Published Feb 24, 2014

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Johannesburg - Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) wants 39 leaders of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction (Amcu), including its president, Joseph Mathunjwa, to be fined or incarcerated for contempt of court, according to papers filed by the company at the Labour Court on Friday.

Amplats, the biggest platinum producer, argues that Amcu has flouted picketing rules in the four-week strike despite a court order compelling it to abide by the rules that was handed down on January 24.

Amplats accuses Mathunjwa, and Jimmy Gama, the national treasurer, Bohlale Maphosa and Tebogo Madikwane, both leaders at the company’s Khuseleka mine, of inciting members to ignore the law and picketing rules.

The three major producers, Amplats, Impala Platinum and Lonmin, have lost a combined R4.4 billion in revenue in the strike for a R12 500 minimum monthly wage.

Violence has intensified and the latest victim, Kabelo Morapedi, employee at Amplat's Union mine in Limpopo, survived an attack after he was set alight on Thursday on his way to work.

Earlier, an Amplats employee was killed during a scuffle between the police and protesters at the mine.

Amplats cites examples in which Amcu members have breached the picketing rules through violence and intimidation of non-striking employees.

In one example, two groups of protesters gathered at Khuseleka mine where they were disorderly, carried dangerous weapons and prevented non-striking employees from going to work on January 27.

In another incident on the same day, a bus carrying non-striking members was hijacked allegedly by Amcu members wearing balaclavas and carrying knobkieries. A number of passengers escaped through windows while six others were assaulted by employees who were waiting outside the bus.

The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) invited Amcu to a meeting to establish picketing rules on January 22, before the strike. However, Amcu said it could not attend as it had to be in the Labour Court on the same day.

The CCMA established the picketing rules in Amcu’s absence. The rules were communicated to employees and copies placed in picketing areas. - Business Report

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