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South African Union to Protest De Beers’ Kimberley Mines Sale

Jan 6, 2016 11:13 AM   By Rapaport News
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RAPAPORT... South Africa’s National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) will march next week against De Beers decision to sell the Kimberley Mines, claiming the union was not consulted before the deal was announced in the media last year.

Protesters affiliated to the NUM’s Kimberley Mines branch will be “voicing their anger, disappointment and sadness” over the manner in which De Beers sold the mines in South Africa to Petra Diamonds and Ekapa Mining, leaving “600 employees’ future hanging in limbo.” They will march January 14 along a route that ends at De Beers Johannesburg office, according to a statement January 5.

The union will demand the mining giant halt the sale and start a consultation process in compliance with labor law, “ensuring the sustainable employment and job security of our members.”

A memorandum will be handed to De Beers and South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources, the statement added.

De Beers Consolidated Mines' chief executive officer met personally with mine management and employees on October 17, 2014, to explain that the company was considering the future of Kimberley Mines and assessing options, De Beers said in a response emailed to Rapaport News January 7. Since an initial announcement that month, De Beers hosted "at least 10 additional engagement sessions with the NUM, where issues relating to Kimberley Mines’ future were and/or potentially could have been raised," the miner added.
Tags: De Beers, Kimberley mines, National Union of Mineworkers, Rapaport News, South Africa
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