20,000 South African miners may face dismissal

PanARMENIAN.Net - Striking miners at one of Gold Fields' South African operations returned to work on Thursday, Oct 18, but the bullion producer still looked set to fire more than 20,000 others taking part in the worst wildcat walkout since the end of apartheid, Reuters reported.

More than 80,000 miners have downed tools in the country since August in often violent strikes that are hitting growth and investor confidence in Africa's biggest economy, and raising questions about President Jacob Zuma's leadership.

Gold Fields, the world's fourth-largest bullion producer and second-biggest in Africa, said all of the 9,000 workers at its Beatrix mine were now back at work.

Those striking at its KDC West operations in Carletonville, 40 km (25 miles) west of Johannesburg, have until 8 am EDT to return to work or face immediate dismissal. Gold Fields has said it may issue a similar ultimatum to those striking at KDC East.

More and more mines in South Africa have resorted to mass dismissals to tackle the strikes gripping the sector. Around 15,000 workers have been sacked in the last two weeks, although experts say it is more a hard-ball negotiating tactic than outright dismissal.

"It's largely a tactical move," said a labor lawyer, who asked not to be named as he is involved in talks to resolve the strikes. "They don't expect to be able to run a mine with a completely new labor force."