Mining Weekly reports that trade union Solidarity has welcomed the High Court’s declaratory ruling on the “once empowered, always empowered” principle in the Mining Charter.
This comes after the court ruled that it could not be expected of mining companies to maintain a 30% black empowerment rate. Consequently, historical empowerment transactions would still be recognised by the courts, and companies would not lose their empowerment status when black shareholders sold their shares. Connie Prinsloo, Solidarity’s mining industry’s deputy general secretary, pointed out that a great deal of uncertainty about the interpretation of this principle had prevailed and that it posed an obstacle to effective talks between parties involved. “There can now be much more certainty in negotiations and we are pleased with this certainty the ruling brings,” Prinsloo said.
- A short report is at Mining Weekly
- Read Solidarity’s press statement in this regard at Solidarity online
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page