IN CONVERSATION WITH LIVHUWANI MAMMBURU (NATIONAL UNION OF MINEWORKERS NATIONAL SPOKESSPERSON)
Loading player...
Glencore has initiated a formal retrenchment process at several of its vital ferrochrome and vanadium smelting sites in South Africa, chiefly targeting the Boshoek and Wonderkop smelters in Rustenburg. Additionally, the Lion smelter is under evaluation and may see its operating capacity reduced by half. The company’s Rhovan vanadium operations, its carbon division in Emalahleni, as well as support and shared services functions at Rustenburg, Lydenburg, and its head office are also subject to restructuring.
These measures stem from persistent economic challenges that have severely strained operations. South Africa, which holds around 80% of the world’s chrome ore reserves and is a key player in ferrochrome production, has been grappling with frequent power outages, escalating electricity costs, and a 10:35
generally deteriorating economic climate. Production at the Boshoek, Wonderkop, and Lion smelters was suspended in May, with ten out of the venture’s 22 furnaces already permanently or temporarily shut down.
Labour representatives have painted a stark picture of the potential human impact, stating that if the remaining furnaces are also forced to close, the fallout could have up to 2,425 direct jobs and more than 17,000 indirect roles threatened.
Joining us now is Livhuwani Mammburu, the National Spokesperson for the National Union of Mineworkers. He’ll be helping us unpack the impact of Glencore and Samancor’s retrenchments, and what these cuts could mean for workers, communities, and the wider South African mining market
These measures stem from persistent economic challenges that have severely strained operations. South Africa, which holds around 80% of the world’s chrome ore reserves and is a key player in ferrochrome production, has been grappling with frequent power outages, escalating electricity costs, and a 10:35
generally deteriorating economic climate. Production at the Boshoek, Wonderkop, and Lion smelters was suspended in May, with ten out of the venture’s 22 furnaces already permanently or temporarily shut down.
Labour representatives have painted a stark picture of the potential human impact, stating that if the remaining furnaces are also forced to close, the fallout could have up to 2,425 direct jobs and more than 17,000 indirect roles threatened.
Joining us now is Livhuwani Mammburu, the National Spokesperson for the National Union of Mineworkers. He’ll be helping us unpack the impact of Glencore and Samancor’s retrenchments, and what these cuts could mean for workers, communities, and the wider South African mining market
