Gwede Mantashe accuses Impala of ‘arrogance’ over job cuts
Impala Platinum, the world’s second biggest platinum miner, seeks to save Rustenburg operations
Impala Platinum, the world’s second biggest platinum miner, has ignited a political firestorm by announcing plans to cut its workforce by 13,000 people, close or sell five shafts and cut output by 230,000oz to save its Rustenburg mining area. The R2.7bn two-year restructuring of its 11 shafts, which form the heart of the company, was met with withering criticism from Mineral Resources Minister and former general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers Gwede Mantashe, who accused Implats of “arrogance” and working against the national interest. Mantashe’s public comments in a tweet were at odds with those from Implats CEO Nico Muller, who, while warning of an adverse reaction from the Department of Mineral Resources and organised labour, said there had been “extensive” talks with both parties and that the department, which it had approached in terms of a clause in the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, had been “supportive”. What is clear from Muller is that Impl...
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