BL Premium reports that Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) has restarted operations after stabilising the security situation around the mine.

The operations of the heavy mineral sands extraction and refining company were closed in late June amid growing tensions that had seen the murder of the company’s general manager Nico Swart, who was killed when 20 bullets were fired into his vehicle. The reopening of RBM comes after weeks of work to address safety and security concerns at the operations, which are owned by Rio Tinto. Among the measures taken is an agreement between RBM and community stakeholders to support enhanced governance and controls of community trusts. RBM has released more than R130m to the community trusts established in 2009 for each of the four communities surrounding the mining and smelter operation which, it said, will directly support local economic development in the communities. The company has also reached an agreement with local youth, as represented by the Sokhulu Youth Forum. The restarting of the operations is good news for the local economy. With 5,000 employees, RBM is the largest taxpayer in KwaZulu-Natal, which in July was hit by economically destructive riots and looting. In the balance too is Zulti South, a R6.7bn life-extension project which was approved by Rio Tinto in 2019, but which has yet to get off the ground.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisa Steyn at BusinessLive (paywall access only)

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page