DRDGold on Wednesday dismissed trade union Solidarity's claim that 1300 employees would be retrenched at Blyvooruitzicht gold mine near Carletonville.

"I find this union's action very peculiar," DRDGold CEO Niel Pretorius said in a statement.

"Some weeks ago, Blyvoor completed a restructuring exercise following a consultation process in terms of Section 189A of the Labour Relations Act."

The outcome of the exercise was that job reductions were contained to a total of 330, comprising 27 medical separations, 62 retirements, 101 voluntary retrenchments and 140 compulsory retrenchments.

"In spite of the fact that Solidarity is not recognised as a bargaining unit at Blyvoor because it represents only a handful of employees, the union was invited to make representations at the Section 189A consultation process.

"It failed to do this and it has now come to our attention that — after the fact — the union is seeking an urgent interdict against DRDGold."

Pretorius said the union was acting "in bad faith," seemingly intent on causing "unnecessary anxiety and discord" amongst the Blyvoor workforce by stating in public, without any substantiation whatsoever, that further retrenchments were planned.

"We have made it very clear in two public announcements in recent days, what our intentions are regarding Blyvoor," Pretorius said.

"We announced first that we were seeking a judicial management order from the High Court in a bid to prevent Blyvoor's liquidation and said subsequently that the judicial management order had been granted."

The company had been encouraged by the indications of support it had received from all affected parties, and in particular the Blyvoor workforce and the two recognised unions, the National Union of Mineworkers and UASA.

"We look forward to working with the judicial manager appointed by the High Court and are committed to doing our part to save Blyvoor in the interests of all stakeholders."

Pretorius said he found Solidarity's actions counter-productive and "downright mischievous".

Solidarity spokesman Jaco Kleynhans denied the union had been invited to make representations at the Section 189A consultation process.

"We were never invited to be part of the process... some of our members were then retrenched and that's when we asked for an interdict because we weren't able to negotiate on their behalf."

He said Solidarity was now "spending thousands of rand" to take the matter to the labour court.

Sapa

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