Opportunities for Black Miners in South Africa

I write to point out that your article, “A Gold Mining Slump Digs Into South Africa,” which appeared in World Report (July 10), contained a number of factual errors.

Firstly, to state that “little effort has been made to move blacks into the skilled trades” is simply devoid of truth. In the very short time since the removal of restrictive racial laws--a development initiated and vigorously pursued by South Africa’s private sector mining industry--more than 6,000 black employees have moved into skilled positions previously reserved by law for whites.

Furthermore, in a period of less than two years following the abolition of discriminatory legislation, an additional 600 blacks have been given the necessary training and awarded the so-called “blasting certificate,” a qualification enabling them to move into the most senior positions in South African mining.

While it is true that the majority of black mine workers are migrants and that they are housed in single-sex hostels, it is incorrect to infer that a “prison-like atmosphere” prevails. No restriction is imposed on any employee’s freedom of movement and the quality of accommodation provided is the envy of many other mining communities elsewhere in the world.

That there are difficulties in the migrant labor system is common cause but the industry has long been mindful of these problems and has done much to ease or erase them.

Your report also states that the average wage paid to black mine workers is $200. This is not true. The present average wage for unskilled and semi-skilled employees is in excess of R700 per month. At current exchange rates this amounts to more than $300 but you may be sure that R700 in South Africa has a great deal more purchasing power than $300 in the United States.

In addition it is conservatively estimated that supplementary benefits enjoyed by employees (i.e., free food, accommodations, medical treatment and recreational facilities) are worth an additional R270 per month.

I must also take exception to your reporter’s allegations of racial inequities which he bases on the observation that whites are brought out of mines ahead of blacks at the end of a shift.

For a number of reasons--among them safety--some measure of control is required in moving large numbers of people in and out of deep level mines and existing practice is founded not on racial criteria but on the basis of seniority. The most senior employees come out of the shaft first irrespective of race.

At the present time the majority of senior positions are, indeed, occupied by whites but the rapidly changing skills profile of our black employees will soon dictate that considerable numbers of them will be returning to the surface ahead of many of their white colleagues.

The South African mining industry does not lay claim to perfection. We acknowledge our shortcomings. But now that we have jettisoned the iniquitous discriminatory laws that for so long impeded our optimal development we have moved with great speed and are a truly equal opportunity employers.

P.G. BUNKELL

Manager

Public Affairs

Chamber of Mines of South Africa

Johannesburg, S. Africa