BusinessLive reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) wants mineral resources minister Gwede Mantashe to conduct a forensic audit of Lanxess’s chrome mine and possibly revoke its licence, following allegations of rampant corruption at the mine.  

Numsa claims that the company unilaterally changed the rules of the employee share ownership scheme, which was valued at about R70m in 2017.  Lanxess has also been in the news lately with Numsa accusing the mine’s management of rampant racism and of defending a mine captain alleged to have sexually assaulted a female subordinate.  This has prompted union members to stage an underground sit-in since last week.  The controversial ownership scheme was established in 2007 and it was envisaged that after it matured in 10 years, workers would receive their pro rata share in line with their years of services at the mine.  Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said workers were informed in 2017 that the mine’s board formed part of the 26% BEE partnership shareholding, which included workers’ ownership.  “They … implemented these changes and as such, workers were only paid out R10,000 … [this] was hush money to silence our members so they do not revolt or ask questions,” Jim claimed.  He called on Mantashe’s department to act, “even if it means [revoking] the licence of this mine”.  The department said it was concerned about the safety of the mineworkers who were underground and “hence our immediate focus and priority on this matter is to ensure that all employees come up from underground safely.”

• Read the full original of Luyolo Mkentane’s report in the above regard at BusinessLive
• Read too, Lanxess mine boss followed me into mine for sex, at SowetanLive

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