Final Ultimatum For Unlawful Strikers At Gold Fields To Return To Work Or Face Dismissal

JOHANNESBURG, October 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Gold Fields Limited (Gold Fields) (JSE, NYSE, NASDAQ Dubai: GFI) regret to advise that approximately 11,000 of the 14,300 employees at KDC West (formerly Driefontein Gold Mine) on strike since 9 September; the full employee body of approximately 2,800 employees at the number 4 Shaft of the Beatrix Gold Mine (formerly Oryx Gold Mine) on strike since 21 September; and approximately 8,500 of 12,400 employees at KDC East (formerly Kloof Gold Mine) on strike since 14 October; remain engaged in unlawful and unprotected strikes (a total of 23,540 out of 35,700 employees).

The striking workers have rejected the settlement proposal which was made by the Chamber of Mines to the NUM, Solidarity and UASA last week.

At the numbers 1, 2 and 3 Shafts at the Beatrix Mine in the Free State there have been positive developments in that the majority of employees have reported for duty this morning. It is too early to say if the strike is over but we continue to monitor the situation and will make an announcement in due course.

After considerable discussion and thought, and with the full support of the Board of Directors, Gold Fields has this morning issued a final ultimatum to the employees still on strike at KDC West and Beatrix, to present themselves for work by no later than 14h00, Thursday, 18 October, 2012, or face immediate dismissal.

The settlement proposal referred to above will apply to all employees who return to work by that time. 

The company has also applied for an interdict at KDC East.

Nick Holland, Chief Executive Officer of Gold Fields, said: "Particularly disturbing is that in the past few days we have seen a significant escalation in lawlessness, including damage to public and private property, widespread intimidation, including many cases of personal violence and several of attempted murder. Over the weekend we saw strikers invade and ransack the police station in Westonaria and as recently as last night the driver of a company vehicle was stopped, pulled from his vehicle, seriously assaulted, and the vehicle set alight. Security personnel who attended the scene were fired on with live ammunition. Such behaviour is totally unacceptable."  

Holland added that despite this, Gold Fields has continued to provide food, medical services and housing to workers engaged in the unprotected strikes, and has acted with the greatest circumspection and restraint in order to maintain the peace and safety of employees.

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