Miningmx reports that according to Reg Demana, CEO of Wescoal Holdings, one of the challenges facing the coal producer was that the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), the recognised union at its Mpumalanga operations, was losing control of its membership.  

Demana observed:  “One of the specific challenges in Mpumalanga is that we have Amcu which is not as strong as it used to be.  It is losing control of its membership.  Employees are now wanting representation in addition to formalised union representation.”  He was speaking after his company announced it would shut its Vanggatfontein mine for up to eight weeks following rioting involving more than 200 employees.  Demana’s comments came on the same day that it was reported that the Department of Labour intended to de-register the union for failing to operate in line with the Labour Relations Act.  In March, Neal Froneman, CEO of Sibanye-Stillwater, commented on Amcu’s structural difficulties as follows:  “Joseph [Mathunjwa, president of AMCU] calls all the shots … I don’t understand how an organisation that is supposedly democratically run operates like that.”  He also opined that Mathunjwa appeared to have a political agenda given his strident criticism of the ANC and government.

• Read the full original of David McKay’s report in the above regard at Miningmx

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