167 Bafokeng miners surface but 2,038 stay underground

The unprotected protest action at Impala's Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum Mine, which started on Monday, remains unresolved.

By 7pm on Tuesday Implats said 167 employees had returned to the surface, while about 2,038 employees remained underground.

Implats said it has implemented targeted emergency measures to safeguard the wellbeing of those participating in the illegal protest, voluntarily or under duress.

“Support measures for concerned family members and friends have been introduced.

“Assistance is available to employees electing to exit the shafts when they are ready to do so.”

The sit-in protest was sparked by the recent change in ownership at Impala Bafokeng.

Implats said issues at stake for the protest ringleaders included the view that accumulated pension fund balances of employees can be paid out to employees, that statutory taxation provisions should not apply to award and/or bonus payments, and concerns over the historical employee profit share arrangement being converted, at the election of employees, into an employee share ownership trust.

The company said it was willing to engage in constructive negotiations to settle the dispute.

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