-->Durban Deep wields jobs axe as rand bites

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Up to 2 000 workers to be retrenched and more job cuts could follow soon

Resources Editor

GOLD producer Durban Roodepoort Deep says it will retrench up to 2000 workers at its Blyvooruitzicht mine in Carletonville as the strong rand continues to wreak havoc on marginal mines in SA.

The rand gold price has improved since the June quarter, but this does not appear to have been enough to save jobs at Blyvooruitzicht mine, and retrenchments are expected to start on September 20.

The company said yesterday it had pursued an active dialogue with the unions, which had agreed to the retrenchment package. The packages are expected to cost the mine about R100m.

National Union of Mineworkers' leader at the mine Hibana Mbuyiseli confirmed the unions had agreed to the retrenchments"as there was no other choice".