Defiant South African unions stage protest against Sibanye-Stillwater

A worker at a mine of Sibanye-Stillwater in Carletonville. Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) have been on strike since 9 March, demanding an increase of R1,000 per month over the next three years.

Hundreds of workers on Friday chanted slogans and burnt tyres, blocking a major highway. AMCU head Joseph Mathunjwa urged them to continue with the strike.

"Going on strike is one of the best decisions you have ever made. This is about the future of your children, do not back down," Mathunjwa told the cheering workers.

UASA accepts Sibanye-Stillwater wage offer

Helen Reid  15 Mar 2022

Solidarity, UASA accept Sibanye offer

Solidarity union and the United Association of South Africa (UASA), the other unions which were negotiating with Sibanye, have accepted Sibanye's offer.

Under Sibanye's final offer, miners, artisans and officials would receive a 5% pay increase each year while "unskilled and semi-skilled" employees would be given an annual increase of R800 a month each year between 2022 and 2024.

Sibanye has said it would not increase its offer and is implementing a lock-out order against NUM and AMCU members who will not be paid while on strike, under the terms of South African labour law.

A five-month strike by AMCU at Sibanye's gold operations from November 2018 to April 2019 cut the company's South African gold revenue by 19% that year.

The contribution of Sibanye's South African gold operations to group earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) has declined from about 16% during the previous strike, to about 7% in 2021.