If there was ever a comment to come back and bite mineral resources minister Gwede Mantashe, it was his saying that there wasn't a crisis in the platinum sector apart from the self-made one of poor relationships with employees and communities. Since he made these comments at a platinum conference in Johannesburg in April, there has been little good news from the sector, with Impala Platinum unveiling plans to cut its workforce by 13,000 people by closing or selling five mines and cutting platinum production by nearly 250,000 oz. Lonmin, the world No 3 platinum miner, is forging ahead with the 12,600 job cuts it announced in December 2017 as it stops unprofitable shafts and prepares for a takeover by Sibanye-Stillwater. While the conversation might be different behind closed doors between Implats management, Mantashe and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) leadership, the public statements from the minister and union leadership show the deep divisions so prev...
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