Harmony contractor sacked over output
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PRODUCTION has been halted at six of Harmony Gold Mining's shafts following an investigation into the alleged manipulation of gold production by contractor MID Mining.
Harmony has cancelled its contract with MID, putting 5000 of the contractor's workers in the Free State out of jobs.
Charges have also been laid by Harmony against MID with the South African Police Service.
Harmony chief operating officer Andre Wilkens declined to divulge the nature of the charges yesterday, saying only that they related to gold output.
But labour union Solidarity, which was infuriated by the job losses, said that the contract cancellation related to "alleged manipulation of the grams of gold per ton" of ore mined.
Wilkens said the temporary termination of production at the shafts in Welkom and Klerksdorp would not have a substantial effect on the company's output.
Production from these shafts represented less than 1% of Harmony's output, he said.
"We have been investigating several irregularities in the contract for some time," Wilkens said. "For Harmony to have taken these actions, it was serious."
Solidarity said it would consider using legal remedies to protect the jobs and income of the affected workers.
MID Mining head Ian Haupp could not be reached for comment yesterday
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