Amcu strike has cost R10 bn in revenue to date

The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) platinum strike, now in its ninth week, has to date cost the platinum producers close to R10 billion in revenue and R4.4 billion in earnings lost to employees.
A joint statement by the chief executives of Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), Impala Platinum Holdings (Implats) and Lonmin Plc on Tuesday morning said: “The extended strike on the platinum belt is unprecedented, and at a stage where some of its impacts are becoming irreparable.”
The CEOs, Chris Griffith, Terence Goodlace and Ben Magara, noted that the losses mentioned above did not tell the full story. “Mines and shafts are becoming unviable, businesses are closing and crime in the platinum belt is increasing. People are hungry, children aren’t going to school, and overwhelmingly, employees are telling us they want to return to work,” they said.
The business leaders commented that they were committed to ongoing dialogue with Amcu and other stakeholders. “In respect of the 2013 wage negotiations, a settlement must be found for the sake of our companies, our employees and the sector as a whole. We urge Amcu to return to the negotiating table ready to seek an affordable and sustainable solution.”