Mining Weekly reports that two trade unions on Tuesday publicly backed the sale by Anglo American of coal assets to Seriti Resources, the new black-owned start-up.  

Both Solidarity and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) put out statements welcoming the R2.3-billion deal, which involves the sale of three Eskom-tied domestic thermal coal operations and four closed collieries that have reopening potential.  Anglo has signed a binding sale and purchase agreement with Seriti in a deal that has been two years in the making.  The coal operations consist of Anglo’s Eskom-tied New Vaal, New Denmark and Kriel collieries.  Solidarity’s Connie Prinsloo was encouraged by Seriti’s vision of long-standing support for the development and sustainability of SA’s mining industry.  The NUM’s Joseph Montisetse expressed the union’s happiness with the potential reopening of four closed collieries presenting the possibility of “massive job opportunities in communities around those closed coal operations".

• Read this report in full at Mining Weekly
• See too, NUM welcomes Seriti's purchase of Anglo coal mines, at Fin24
• Read Solidarity’s press release at Solidarity online
• Read the NUM’s press release at Cosatu Today

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page