* Illegal strikes denting investor confidence
* Amplats workers defy dismissal threats
* Strikes spread to junior gold producer
By Agnieszka Flak
RUSTENBURG, South Africa, Sept 28 (Reuters) – South African
miners on an illegal strike against the world’s top platinum
producer defied management threats of dismissal on Friday,
throwing down the gauntlet as another wildcat stoppage hit the
country’s restive mining sector.
Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), the top producer
of the white metal and a unit of global mining group Anglo
American, said on Thursday it would begin disciplinary
action against illegal strikers and could fire them.
Four of Amplats’ Rustenburg mines, accounting for a quarter
of group output, have been idle for more than two weeks, costing
the company at least 20,000 ounces in lost output to date – $33
million at current spot prices.
A wave of illegal mine strikes is roiling Africa’s biggest
economy despite the end of a bloody six-week stoppage at another
platinum producer, Lonmin , in which 46 people
were killed.
Spot platinum was up 1.4 percent at $1,665.74 an
ounce, on track for a 15.4 percent quarterly rise.
Continued…
