Anglo-Swiss mining major Glencore Xstrata has sacked additional 800 workers at the Helena, Magareng and Thorncliffe mines in Limpopo taking the total number of dismissed workers to 1,000.
The additional terminations were made after the company management and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) failed to reach to a mutually agreeable decision at the meetings.
Alleged assault accusations of a worker by a shift supervisor at Helena mine on 28 May had spread the tension to the company’s Magareng and Thorncliffe mines.
Glencore Xstrata sacked 200 workers last week after they ignored three warnings from the management to return to work. However, the company has allotted deadline of upto 4 June 2013 for the miners to make an appeal pertaining the dismissals, reported Mining Weekly.
Xstrata spokesperson Christopher Tsatsawane told Mining Weekly that the company was keen to begin discussions with AMCU to settle the strike.
Meanwhile, the company has launched an investigation chaired by an independent person who was agreed upon by union members and the management.
To ensure efficient enquiry, the company has held accused and complainant on a special leave.
Glencore Xstrata has enough chrome ore stock for smelter operations and to facilitate consumer requirements, it said in the statement.