RUSTENBURG HERALD - KROONDAL - Multinational mining and metals processing group Sibanye-Stillwater reported on Tuesday, June 4, that more than 200 employees remained underground in an illegal sit-in at its Kroondal mine.
The group said the sit-in started on the morning of June 3, with morning shift employees, including contractors, at the Kwezi shaft. Later, the night shift at the K6 shaft was also disrupted, with more than 250 people gathering in a central waiting place on the surface.
“This unfortunate turn of events transpired, following the annual payments made to beneficiaries of the Rustenburg and Marikana employee share option schemes (ESOPs) on Friday.
“The striking Kroondal employees are reportedly aggrieved to not have received ESOP payments, despite Kroondal employees not yet qualifying for any ESOP payments,” Sibanye pointed out.
A provision of the 2023 Kroondal wage agreement signed between the company and union representatives from the National Union of Mineworkers and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, was for management and the unions to engage on the feasibility of introducing the Rustenburg ESOP for Kroondal employees once the acquisition of the Kroondal pool and share agreement (PSA) by Sibanye Rustenburg Platinum Mines (SRPM) was finalised.
Sibanye said several engagements have taken place between the company, organised labour and employees regarding the proposed ESOP as per the provision, with the parties agreeing that Kroondal employees would be included as beneficiaries of the Rustenburg ESOP, following the conclusion of the PSA transaction, which is expected before the 2024 year-end.
