[imagesource: AP Photo / Denis Farrell]

Life at the top of the Sibanye-Stillwater food chain is very good.

Last week, it emerged that the mining company’s CEO, Neal Froneman, banked more than R300 million in 2021. That’s not a typo – three hundred million rand (with an extra R300 000 as an aside).

The reason Froneman’s payday generated so much news coverage is due to the fact that miners have been striking for an increase and the CEO has played it tough at the negotiating table.

The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) have downed tools since March 10 and are after a R1 000 per month wage increase.

Sibanye’s offer was R700 per month and has since been raised to R800. Speaking last month, Froneman said that such a raise was in line with inflation and “the wage profile is fair”.

On Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa was forced to abandon his Workers’ Day address at the Cosatu rally in Rustenburg, North West, after angry Sibanye-Stillwater miners booed him and stormed the stage.

Below via IOL:

Ramaphosa was rejected by the workers and as the mood became uglier, police were forced to intervene while the statesman’s bodyguard quickly ushered him out of the Royal Bafokeng Stadium where the event was meant to take place…

The workers have been on strike for the past few weeks and brought their demands to the Workers’ Day rally, where Ramaphosa was supposed to address them.

Cosatu president Zingiswa Losi also tried to pacify the crowd with little success, as many in attendance chanted  “you must go”:

President Cyril Ramaphosa chased away by workers at a Workers’ Day event in Rustenburg on Sunday 1 May 2022. “You must go!” They chanted. pic.twitter.com/zdBTnp4YZ4

— Dr. Noah (@NMarutlulle) May 1, 2022

He listened, and he went:

What happened to President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday in Rustenburg at May Day Rally was embarrassing and it proves that we dont have intelligence in south africa. pic.twitter.com/7GR0GGxMdO

— Edgar Legoale 🇿🇦 (@EdgarLegoale) May 2, 2022

Why would one think that President Ramaphosa doesn’t have miners’ interests at heart?

Cough, cough – Marikana.

In his weekly newsletter published earlier today, Ramaphosa said he understood the frustrations he was confronted by.

An excerpt via The Citizen:

The challenges that workers face this Workers Day are many and the hardships they endure are great. The road ahead will be difficult and there is much work to do. That is why we need to rebuild trust and confidence, and why we need to forge a social compact that not only has the support of workers, but also delivers meaningful benefits to them.

The workers have spoken. We must listen. And, together, we must act.

Yawn. There is nothing the ANC can do that will rebuild trust and confidence at this point.

That ship has sailed, most likely to Dubai, loaded with loot.

[sources:iol&citizen]