Ramaphosa pleads with mining sector to mend fences with striking workers
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for more amicable relations between trade unions and employees in the mining sector.
Ramaphosa made the remarks at the launch Anglo American's nuGen Zero Emission Haulage Solution in Limpopo on Friday.
The launch of the haulage solution, which is a hydrogen-powered, ultra-class mine haul truck, is tipped to be a gamechanger in the mining sector.
The project by the multinational company, supported by government, is also set to contribute to the expansion of the country's economy in a bid to achieve a clean energy future.
During the launch, Ramaphosa pleaded with industry players to mend fences amid ongoing wage disputes.
This includes deadlocked negotiations between Sibanye-Stillwater and workers demanding more than R1000 increase.
Ramaphosa was heckled by disgruntled Sibanye workers during Workers Day celebrations in North West on Sunday.
"I, together with Minister [of Minerals and Energy Gwede] Mantashe were leaders in trade unions that tried to fashion better relationships between companies and unions where we sought and succeeded in many ways to improve the labour relations between workers and their employers.
"Hostility between employers and unions should really belong to the dustbin of history.
"We want stakeholders to build compacts, to build really smart relations - whether it is climate change issues, whether it is on wage negotiations, whatever it is," Ramaphosa told delegates.
Ramaphosa believes eased tensions will drive up productivity.
"We must create an ecosystem that is beneficial all round in terms of labour relations, in terms of driving productivity, in terms of investment, in terms of community, in terms of health and safety.
"It must be a beneficial ecosystem where the hostility is brought down and almost eliminated and where people work on the basis of consensus to drive our economy forward."
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