Mining bosses talk tough as illegal strikes spook investors

AngloGold Ashanti warned that, with no end in sight to a spate of wildcat strikes, an illegal stoppage could lead to cuts in its operations there and said it might also have to fire workers.

Amplats' four Rustenburg mines have been shut for more than two weeks at a cost of over 20 000 ounces in lost output. Virtually all of the strikes are illegal and the company threatens to sack employees who do not report to today's disciplinary hearings. Independent Online reports that Mark Cutifani, chief executive of AngloGold Ashanti, the world's number-three gold producer, said in a statement there were no immediate plans to scale back on R4.5-billion in capital investment plans in South Africa this year but the country was becoming a tough sell to investors.

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