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The Minister of Mineral Resources Mr Gwede Mantashe met with Gold Fields executives this evening, as part of efforts to resolve the current impasse where the company wants to retrench an estimated 1100 employees and 400 contractors at its South Deep Mine.

The Department began engagements with Gold Fields in August 2018 to find alternatives to the company’s proposed retrenchment plan.

It is also a matter of great concern when a strike in the sector is prolonged, as this has an adverse impact on the economy. Employees at the mine have been on strike since the 2nd of November 2018.

“We don’t believe the company is acting in good faith. They have merely engaged in a tick-box exercise for compliance purposes. This is a disturbing approach, and we remain unhappy with the way the process has unfolded thus far,” the Minister said.

“We continue to urge employers in the sector to be responsible, as we are dealing with people’s lives when we talk of possible retrenchments, and not mere numbers,” the Minister concluded.

Issued by The Department of Mineral Resources