JOHANNESBURG - Lonmin has been given a deadline by South African authorities to fix non-compliant parts of its social labour plan (SLP) or risk having its mining right suspended, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) issued a so-called Section 93 notice to the platinum miner relating to shortcomings in Lonmin’s commitment to local development programmes, community education and procurement, said the person.
Lonmin has had a fractious relationship with the community around its mines ever since police shot and killed 34 protesters in 2012 during a strike near its Marikana operations.
This year, the company was forced to temporarily close two shafts in May after community protests turned violent.
“We have received correspondence from the DMR that highlights areas that have been identified as non compliant and/or are behind schedule of implementation in our current SLP,” Lonmin said. The company will provide evidence of compliance in some areas and is requesting time extensions in other areas, it said.
“We are further engaging the DMR to ensure that community intervention programmes proposed are sustainable and in line with the municipal and provincial priorities for economic development.”