SABC News writes that gold producer AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) is going ahead with the retrenchment of 8,500 miners in three mines in the Free State and Gauteng.  

The world's third-largest gold miner in June announced that it intended to reduce its South African workforce by a third.  About 4,500 miners at Kopanang in the Free State and another 4,000 at Tautona and Savuka in Carletonville on the West Rand might soon be standing in the unemployment line.  Unions have intervened, but they have little hope of saving the situation.  The National Union of Mineworkers’ (NUM’s) Khaya Ngaleka said:  "Looking at how they're doing business, I don't think they will reverse their decision because of their brutality.  But we will do whatever it takes as NUM to make them not continue with what they are anticipating to do."  In a statement to the SABC, the company, which currently employs 28,000 people, said the situation was untenable as the affected mines have been making unsustainable losses.

• Based on a report by Sellwane Khakhau at SABC News

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