NUM in South Africa Seeks License Revocation of DRDGold

ICEM affiliate NUM has called for the South African government to revoke the mining license of Durban Roodeport Deep (DRDGold). NUM cites DRDGold’s atrocious safety record, as well as its negative labour relations practices. On 9 March, an earth tremor struck the firm’s North West mine operations at Hartebeestfontein leaving scores of miners trapped for several hours due to DRDGold’s insufficient rescue abilities. Two miners died and 23 were injured. And then a week later the company suddenly closed the Blyvooruitzicht mine near Carltonville without giving the necessary statutory notice. Some 300 women who haul waste rock from that mine for residual gold processing by DRDGold lost their jobs. NUM wants DRDGold to exit the mining business and hand operations off to a company with more integrity and more concern for workers.