JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Diversified miner Xstrata spokesperson Christopher Tsatsawane on Friday confirmed that 400 employees, all members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, have been dismissed at its Kroondal chrome mine, in Rustenburg.

Speaking to Mining Weekly Online, Tsatsawane said the workers embarked on a strike on October 25 over one member’s disciplinary hearing.

“We have sent the strikers in this illegal strike ultimatums to urge them to come back to work. Three ultimatum notices have been sent out, without any positive response.

“A notice signalling the inttention to dismiss followed this, still with no response. Technically, the strikers are dismissed; however, they still have 24 hours to appeal their dismissal,” he said.

Tsatswane said the industrial action was “seriously” affecting production, as the majority of Kroondal’s 619 employees were not at work.