Rio Tinto' South African mine reopens after two week protest forced closure
Rio Tinto’s South African Iron and Titanium operations have resumed this week after protests from the local community forced the company to shut down temporarily.
The entrances to Richards Bay Minerals in Johannesburg were blockaded, vehicles and the miners themselves had been harassed by two youth groups over the last two weeks, demanding more jobs for the local community.
Rio Tinto has insisted that there are no new jobs available at the mine and after two weeks a statement issued confirms that successful talks have taken place.
“We are pleased to share that after successfully engaging with both the Mbonambi and Sokhulu communities, we resolved the community protest challenge,” RBM spokeswoman Fundi Dlamini said.
Rio's Iron & Titanium unit, including Richards Bay Minerals, is the world's top producer of titanium-dioxide feedstock, cast iron, steel and metal powders from its operations in Canada, South Africa and Madagascar.
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