EWN reports that Joseph Mathunjwa, president of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), has indicated that the union does not support the 2017 Mining Charter on the basis that the department tasked with implementing it was dysfunctional.  

Last week, Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane released the controversial new charter.  Mathunjwa said that, while he agreed with elements of the Charter, the minister did not know what he was doing.  He commented:  “And currently with his changes of this Mining Charter, I have seen somewhere where he (Zwane) was naturalising the citizenship, for what good reason because the MPRDA is clear on who are historically disadvantaged and that’s a concern, he has limited the powers of the board.”  Mathunjwa also pointed out that Zwane claimed he was open to talks with mining producers over the new charter, but he has also rebuked them for planning to take the new rules to court, saying they're “negotiating in bad faith”.

• Read this report in full at EWN

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page