Harmony Gold said on Thursday that workers at its Kusasalethu mine near Carletonville, west of Johannesburg, had launched an unprotected strike to protest against the suspension of branch leadership aligned with the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu). The suspended leadership had encouraged a go-slow that resulted in only 25% attendance on Wednesday and completely halted production on Thursday. Harmony was seeking a meeting with Amcu leadership on Thursday evening, but this had not been confirmed at the time of publication. The suspension of the branch leadership followed a two-day illegal sit-in in January that led to disciplinary proceedings against 40 employees. At the time, 1,700 employees participated in the sit-in, which was resolved. The grievances related to mine and shaft management and production bonuses. Harmony spokeswoman Marian van der Walt said on Thursday that Amcu and the mine had agreed to an independent investigation. “Subsequently, it was fo...

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