City Press reports that Implats is facing a R27.2 million Labour Court showdown brought by a former senior geologist, who has accused the platinum producer of discrimination, victimisation and assault.

According to court papers filed last month, Nangamso Magobiyane is demanding a total of R27,272,400 in damages from Impala Platinum Holdings, including R280,000 for medical expenses and nearly R1.3m for loss of income. She argues that she suffered unfair discrimination and harassment based on race and gender, as well as gender-based violence (GBV). In her affidavit, the geologist says she was victimised at Implats’ Rustenburg site and claims her complaints were ignored, which left her with no option but to resign from the company. She joined Implats as a graduate geologist in 2011 and was appointed the following year. The alleged discrimination began in 2013 when a white geology graduate was appointed as a specialist, a level higher than that held by Mogobiyane. This happened despite her being two years more senior than the appointee and the position never having been advertised. Other instances of alleged discrimination have been cited. During one shift, a manager allegedly lost his temper when she pointed out an operational anomaly, and he pushed her to the ground, where Magobiyane almost fell into the shaft’s haulage rail. The 36-year-old said such “harassment and marginalisation of a young black female in a [male-dominated] mining sector should not be tolerated and goes against the very fabric of equality guaranteed in the constitution and equality laws.” The company said through its legal representatives that the complainant’s allegations were entirely without merit.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sipho Mabena at City Press (subscription / trial registration required)

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