NUM calls for temporary closure of all mines in Limpopo
2020-05-22 11:41:40 [Print]
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in Limpopo has called for a temporary closure of all mines in the province, but still wants mining companies to pay their workers in full.
This follows after two mines near Burgersfort recorded a number of positive Covid-19 cases. The first mine to report positive cases of the virus was Impala Platinum's Marula mine, with 19 cases confirmed at the weekend. The second mine was Assore's Dwarsriver chrome mine, which reported 30 positive Covid-19 cases on May 19.
The NUM is now calling for the Limpopo authorities to review the state of the Fetakgomo Tubatse municipality and to return it to a Level 5 lockdown.
"The NUM is not in favor of the blanket approach that has been granted by the Mineral Resources and Energy Minister. We argue that each mine should have been given a directive to put measures in place first and be granted permission to restart only when all measures are in place," says NUM North East regional secretary Phillip Mankge.
This follows after two mines near Burgersfort recorded a number of positive Covid-19 cases. The first mine to report positive cases of the virus was Impala Platinum's Marula mine, with 19 cases confirmed at the weekend. The second mine was Assore's Dwarsriver chrome mine, which reported 30 positive Covid-19 cases on May 19.
The NUM is now calling for the Limpopo authorities to review the state of the Fetakgomo Tubatse municipality and to return it to a Level 5 lockdown.
"The NUM is not in favor of the blanket approach that has been granted by the Mineral Resources and Energy Minister. We argue that each mine should have been given a directive to put measures in place first and be granted permission to restart only when all measures are in place," says NUM North East regional secretary Phillip Mankge.
