Mining industry, labour helping to bring stability to sector

Speaking at the Benchmarks Foundation Conference in Kempton Park on Monday, 14 October 2013, Motlanthe also said the government is burning the midnight oil to ensure that mines comply with the Mining requirements of the Mining Charter to improve social conditions in mining communities.

Motlanthe recently led a delegation of mining companies, labour movements and government leaders to put together a framework to bring about stability in the mining industry to also prevent a negative impact on the economy.

"Ensuring a rule of law, peace and stability and the provision of proper and sustainable human settlement infrastructure in the Rustenburg Platinum belt were identified as some of the short-term measures requiring immediate action.

"Our observation is that all parties have so far lived up to their commitment to ensure that peace and stability prevails during strikes and other protests relating to labour disputes," he said.

Motlanthe said with all social challenges facing mining communities, the government had put in place laws to regulate the industry, and said mining houses had a big role to play to redress the historical ills brought about apartheid laws.

"Both government and business have committed to avail financial resources to ensure provision of proper and sustainable human settlement in the Rustenburg Platinum belt. A technical team is working with the local municipality to determine the full scale of the project.

"Medium to long-term measures include reviewing the migrant labour system, annual assessment of the implementation of the Mining Charter and the re-skilling of workers to achieve competiveness and sustainable growth of the mining sector.

"Another team is also working with various government departments on the improvement of health and safety in mines including the compensation of former mineworkers who are suffering from occupational diseases and conditions such as silicosis," he said.

He said the government was currently engaging with mineworkers to ensure that these and other measures can be implemented.

"Discussions will continue at the next Mining Sector Forum meeting next month where we respect more concrete proposals from all stakeholders."