MC Mining closed its Uitkomst colliery in KwaZulu-Natal as violence swept through the province, with looters and arsonists attacking businesses after protests against the 15-month imprisonment of former president Jacob Zuma, spiralled out of control.
The company is the first to announce the closure of a mining operation due to the violence that started last week. Coal is mainly mined in northern KwaZulu-Natal, home to Zuma.
“Unfortunately, protests, road blockages and attacks targeting transport vehicles have been reported across KwaZulu-Natal, including the towns and communities where the majority of the Uitkomst mine employees and contractors reside,” MC’s interim CEO, Sam Randazzo, said in a statement.
“Temporarily halting the colliery operations should also discourage activists from entering the Uitkomst site,” he said.
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