Richards Bay Minerals arson

A group of about 20 people can be seen standing on the sand dunes while equipment burns at Richards Bay Minerals during an arson attack on Friday. Photograph: WhatsApp

Richards Bay Minerals: Now trade union calls on president to step in

Resolving the conflict at Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) is crucial to protecting some 5000 jobs at the local mine UASA has warned

Richards Bay Minerals arson

A group of about 20 people can be seen standing on the sand dunes while equipment burns at Richards Bay Minerals during an arson attack on Friday. Photograph: WhatsApp

The United Association of South Africa trade union has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa, Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe and the police to intervene to stabilise the situation at Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) following the burning of heavy equipment on site.

UASA spokesperson Abigail Moyo said the “dangerous and criminal” situation at Richards Bay Minerals required the swift and decisive intervention by the president, his minister and the police to return order and safety to the mine’s operations. She said it was imperative to resolve the ongoing conflict in order to preserve the foreign investment and jobs created by the mine.

“The violence and destruction at RBM is out of hand and cannot be allowed to continue,” Moyo said.

“Yesterday afternoon (Friday 3 June), community members resorted to burning mine equipment in its feud with the mine, a deadly and ongoing dispute that included a local traditional leadership squabble and another in which locals are demanding to be employed at the mine,” Moyo said.

Videos of the burning equipment were shared on social media at the weekend, showing at least 20 people standing on the sand dunes as the machinery went up in flames. Watch one of the videos here.

Rio Tinto, the international mining company that owns RBM, threatened early last year to close the mine that employs about 5 000 workers. Rio Tinto has also threatened to hold back on a R6,5bn investment in RBM, which it had pledged during the Presidential Investment Summit late in late 2019.

“After the murder of senior RBM manager Nico Swart last month and the burning of bulldozers and other heavy equipment yesterday, the company may well go through with it, leaving 5,000 workers out of a job,” Moyo said.

“RBM is the largest taxpayer in KwaZulu-Natal, contributing R6,2 billion annually. The mine and its workers deserve nothing less than immediate action to secure operations, jobs and safety.