Fin24 reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) wants Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe to follow through on his threat to revoke Sibanye-Stillwater’s mining rights in the gold sector.

The NUM and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) have been on strike for nearly three months over wage demands at Sibanye’s gold mines in Gauteng and the Free State. Remarking on the Sibanye CEO Neal Froneman's comments that the company could withstand a strike for years if needed, Mantashe last week suggested his department could cancel the company’s mining rights because it appeared disinterested in using them. Section 47 of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act gives the minister power to suspend or cancel rights, permits or permissions in particular circumstances. NUM said in a statement on Monday: "We will be fully supporting the minister when he starts the process of revoking Sibanye-Stillwater’s mining licence. We are calling for Minister Gwede Mantashe not to capitulate when threatened with legal action by this evil company." Sibanye did not want to mine, the NUM claimed, adding that the company was “arrogantly sitting on top of the properties of minerals, preventing other potential companies from mining". Sibanye’s James Wellsted said the company had noted the comments made by Mantashe as well as the statement released by the union. "We will engage with [the] Department of Mineral Resources and Energy if this prospect is formally raised with the group but reserve our right to protect the interests of our stakeholders through appropriate legal channels," he said.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisa Steyn at Fin24

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