Coal of Africa dismisses striking miners at Mooiplaats

AIM-listed mining company Coal of Africa has dismissed 178 miners for engaging in a four-day unprotected strike.

The dismissed employees, who constituted 48% of the mine's total workforce, were affiliated to the National Union of Mineworkers and were part of the wages collective bargaining unit. They have been given one week to appeal against their dismissal.

The company stated that the strikers were protesting against the suspension of four of their colleagues who it said had breached picketing rules and terms of a court interdict during a protected strike at the mine in October, and were demanding that the suspensions be lifted.

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The mine's remaining 190 employees will return to work on Friday to resume operation of two of the mine's five underground sections, the processing plant and administrative functions.

The company has a market capitalisation of £99.12m and raised $53.5m in equity capital during the quarter ending September 30th. This comprised $8.7m from Investec Bank and $44.8m from a share issue.

MF