Business Report writes that Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat), which posted a hefty R164m net loss in the six months to June on teething problems at its Styldrift mine, is facing a demand for a 25% wage hike from the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).  

RBPlat chief executive Steve Phiri indicated that wage talks had begun last week and commented further:  “We are hoping the wage negotiation will yield positive results.”  NUM regional chairperson, Geoffrey Moatshe, said the union would demand a 25% increase in wages across the board at a meeting with the company on Wednesday, as well as a R8,000 monthly housing allowance.  “We want the company to do away with the living-out-allowance, because it has resulted in the mushrooming of shanty towns,” said Moatshe.  Styldrift, which produced commercially for the first time at the end of the fourth quarter of 2018, failed to live up to expectations, following a number of problems, including the termination of a mining contractor and difficulty in recruiting mining and engineering skills.

• Read the full original of the above report by Dineo Faku at Business Report

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