Société
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Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) on Monday refuted reports that one of its miners was killed in fresh violence.
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No one was fatally injured when security guards and mine workers clashed at the Siphumelele mine in the Rustenburg area near Johannesburg this afternoon, the company said.
Earlier reports said one miner was shot dead and four others were wounded in clashes between factional workers belonging to the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the Association for Mineworkers and Construction (AMC).
"An incident occurred today at our Siphumelele mine in the Rustenburg area, involving members of the Workers Committee and NUM shop stewards. Workers committee members are contesting NUM's legitimacy at the mine and demanding that NUM vacate its offices," Amplats said.
The company is currently in the process of validating union membership at Rustenburg and the mines north of the Pilanesburg.
A total of nine employees were injured when rubber bullets were fired by Amplats security personnel, the company said.
As they were attempting to evacuate the NUM shop stewards who were trapped in their offices, three security personnel sustained minor injuries during this incident.
All 12 injured employees received medical attention for non- life threatening injuries.
"No one was fatally injured during this incident," the company said.
"Anglo American Platinum expresses its deep concern about this incident and appeals for its employees to remain calm and respect the company's dispute resolution process."
Amplats, the world's top platinum producer, was among several major mines hard hit by labor unrest that left more than 50 people dead last year.
The company announced in January that it would lay off 14,000 workers as part of a restructuring operation to salvage its struggling business. But the plan has been put on hold due to strong reaction both from the government and trade unions.
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