Platinum’s outlier – RB Plats proves mining is also a people business

One of the biggest assets of mid-tier platinum miner Royal Bafokeng (which recently delivered a 33 per cent increase in interim headline EPS) is its relationship with both employees and the leadership of the union that represents them – NUM. So much so that RB Plats was a pillar of work force peace, stability, and … Read more

Royal Bafokeng Platinum vs. SARS – it’s complicated

Tax disputes are an awkward thing for companies. They want to be law abiding and good citizens and whatnot, but they don’t want to pay millions of rands in taxes that they don’t believe they owe. Case in point – Royal Bafokeng Platinum is gearing up to fight SARS over a R437m combination of taxes … Read more

SA’s platinum sector’s outlier: A company that’s expanding and holding costs

Royal Bafokeng Platinum is near the epicenter of South Africa’s labour relations minefield . But in contrast to its peers, the Black owned and run business has negotiated skillfully enough to avoid any explosions. As CEO Steve Phiri explains in this interview, that’s been helped by the dominance which the more mature NUM has at … Read more