Bloomberg reports that Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBM) was ordered on Thursday by mining inspectors to suspend operations at its North shaft.  

The company was issued with a so-called Section 54 notice for the entire shaft, said two people familiar with the situation.  The suspension follows a similar notice a week ago which resulted in the shutdown of operations at parts of the South shaft for safety reasons.  Inspectors from the Department of Mineral Resources apparently returned to the mine earlier on Thursday.  RBM advised last week that it had informed Aforika Borwa Mining Solutions, which is linked to the politically connected Gupta family, that it won’t be renewing its contract.

• A short report by Paul Burkhardt and Loni Prinsloo is at Moneyweb

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