16,000 jobs saved after South Africa government and mining firms deal

A deal struck between South Africa’s government and mining companies plus unions has prevented the immediate loss of 16,000 jobs.

While addressing parliament, David Mzisa, the acting director-general in the Department of Mineral Resources said the deal signed six months ago would keep the 16,000 jobs for now, while other alternatives were being considered to save jobs.

Other than delaying job cuts, the deal also proposed facilitating the sale of struggling mines, but so far there has not been any announcement of such a purchase.

Mining companies operating in Africa’s most developed economy are closing shafts and retrenching tens of thousands of workers as global commodity prices plummet.