Two Lonmin shafts were shut down on Tuesday after a group of workers demanded the closure of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) office at the company’s premises in Marikana‚ Natascha Viljoen‚ Lonmin’s head of processing and sustainability‚ said.
Saffy and Newman were closed after workers did not report for duty.
It was initially understood that three other shafts had also been closed‚ but Lonmin said that workers at the shafts had reported for duty.
At Saffy 3‚360 employees and 367 contractors did not report for the morning shift‚ while at Newman 2‚150 employees and 271 contractors stayed away. They are meeting at a nearby sport stadium.
The company estimated it had lost 1‚000 ounces to the stoppage‚ Ms Viljoen said. "Everything is peaceful‚" she said.
"Workers were demanding the closure of the NUM office‚ but in terms of the peace agreement we have all signed‚ we will not shut them."
An urgent meeting has been called on Lonmin premises and it will be attended by the members of the various unions‚ including the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu)‚ which is the largest union at Lonmin.
Lonmin said in a statement that it had been in talks with the unions since December about "a new recognition dispensation that promotes industrial democracy and inclusivity" that would "give an appropriate voice" to all unions at Lonmin.
However‚ as the talks were still under way‚ a new recognition system had not yet been implemented‚ it said.
"This is a complex issue‚ and we encourage worker representatives to act responsibly and within the framework of labour legislation and the recent industry peace accord‚" the company said.
"We believe Amcu wants to expedite a recognition agreement with Lonmin‚" Sue Vey‚ a Lonmin spokeswoman‚ said.
