According to the group, HMM has come under particular pressure due to the drop in the demand for manganese needed for the production of steel.

According to Solidarity spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans, the difficult economic conditions are placing tremendous pressure on all companies in all industries. “However, the pressure on the communities of the Northern Cape is now reaching alarming levels,” Kleynhans stressed. “The region’s mines – including diamond and manganese – in particular are being affected by the economic climate.”

Solidarity maintains that the consultation process that commences on Monday must be utilised to try and limit the effect of the current conditions on the employees of HMM. “There are several alternatives that should be considered first and therefore the retrenchment of the 150 employees should be considered as a last resort,” Kleynhans said.

HMM consists of the Wessels and Mamatwan mines, both located just outside Hotazel in the Northern Cape as well as the HMM offices in Hotazel.