panafricanANA reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has been informed that Evander Gold Mine in Mpumalanga intends to retrench most of its workforce.  

Evander Gold Mine is a subsidiary of Pan African Resources (PAR).  The union said on Sunday that it was shocked and saddened by mine’s so-called section 189 (i.e. retrenchment) notice of its intention to retrench 1,722 mineworkers.  According to NUM Highveld regional secretary, Tshilidzi Mathavha, the company had a total workforce of 1,812.  The company apparently informed the NUM that the retrenchments were as a result of it being an old mine with deteriorating and inadequate infrastructure, high operating costs, such as rising electricity and labour costs, and a low gold price.  The NUM will be opposing the retrenchments.


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