Fin24 reports that Gold Fields is to cautiously resume operations at its South Deep mine on Thursday after the National Union of Mineworkers' (NUM) head office called off a strike of nearly six weeks against retrenchments.  

Gold Fields spokesperson Sven Lunsche said the NUM’s head office had informed them the strike was over, although he added that he was aware of intimidation tactics being used against employees wanting to return to work.  He indicated that the lengthy strike had caused “enormous underground damage” and the first few shifts would see only essential services going underground.  The union’s deputy president Phillip Vilakazi said they had also received reports of intimidation and threats being made against members reporting for duty.  He encouraged members to return to work saying the NUM only undertook “targeted strikes” and the protracted industrial action was harming members under the no-work, no pay principle.  The union’s national and regional offices have been at loggerheads with the South Deep branch over the protracted strike and last week suspended 13 branch officials. This followed Gauteng’s regional chairperson Ndlela Radebe being stabbed earlier in December while addressing a mass meeting of members who wanted to return to work.  He had previously issued a directive ordering the branch to end the industrial action.  Lunsche said the company was still in talks with the NUM and a slightly different offer to an earlier retrenchment package "sweetener" had been placed on the table.

• Read Tehillah Niselow’s full report in this regard at Fin24
• Read too, NUM calls off the strike at Gold Fields South Deep mine, at Miningmx
• And also, NUM strikers expected back at South Deep, at Business Report

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page