THE future of hundreds of jobs at Bakubung Platinum Mine in Ledig remains uncertain as workers and organised labour continue to raise concerns over the mine’s restructuring process and proposed workforce reductions.
The mine, operated by Wesizwe Platinum, entered into a formal Section 189A consultation process in June 2026 after the company announced plans to restructure its operations. According to Wesizwe, approximately 497 employees could be affected by the proposed restructuring.
The company said the restructuring followed a decision to discontinue its previous 1-million-tonnes-per-annum production strategy and instead pursue a single-stage ramp-up towards a 3.5-million-tonnes-per-annum operation.
Wesizwe said the restructuring was necessary to reduce operating costs and ensure the long-term sustainability of the mine. The company has also maintained that the Section 189A process is intended to allow management, organised labour and other affected stakeholders to consider alternatives that could avoid or reduce retrenchments.
The developments have, however, created growing concern among employees and communities around Ledig and Phatsima, where the mine is an important source of employment and economic activity.
The consultation process has already been accompanied by periods of operational disruption. Bakubung temporarily suspended operations in June to facilitate consultations, before moving towards a phased restart following agreements with recognised labour representatives.
On 31 July, operations were again temporarily suspended after employee feedback sessions conducted by recognised trade unions. Wesizwe said a large number of employees gathered at the mine and that management had assessed the health, safety and security risks as having increased to an unacceptable level.
Workers and community members from Ledig and surrounding areas took to the streets in protest against proposed job cuts at Bakubung Platinum Mine.The protest, led by the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Rustenburg Region together with the Ledig Traditional Office community, raised concerns over the impact of the mine’s restructuring and potential retrenchments on workers, families and the broader community.
Protesters marched to the mine and handed over a memorandum of grievances to management.
Bakubung Platinum Mine accepted the memorandum and committed to providing a formal response within the period stipulated by the protesters.
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