Trade Unions representing workers at Ferrochrome producer, Samancor will engage the company in efforts to reduce the number of employees to be retrenched at the company’s smelters.

Samancor issued retrenchment notices, that envisages that 2400 employees might be retrenched at its smelter operations and corporate office. It cites electricity costs as the reason for its decision.

This, even though Eskom granted them a decrease of 63c per kw/h.

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) says it is shocked by looming job cuts affecting more than 3 000 employees at Glencore and Samancor mines. https://t.co/NaI9OAQ1bD pic.twitter.com/3TRQ9LZFWE

— SABC News (@SABCNews) September 2, 2025

At one of Samancor’s operations is the Dikwena Smelters, situated in Brits in the North West province, employees also face possible retrenchments, and labour unions hope to convince the employer to reduce the number.

Trade union UASA’s Nico van Rooyen hopes they can save some jobs.

“We will enter into discussions with Samancor and see where we can minimise the retrenchments. Obviously, we will negotiate for better packages because, remember, the affected areas will be the smelters, the supply chain and head office. So, that is what we will do from our side. We will fight and see how many jobs we can save.”

Solidarity Union’s Willie Venter says more could have been done to consult the stakeholders, before arriving at the decision.

“We firmly believe, as Solidarity, that we are very close to finding a solution. With the recent announcement by the Minister of Energy that there is 63c per kilowatt-hour on the table, with some terms, there was a solution and light at the end of the tunnel for these companies. However, many companies are still being confronted with a notification that Samancor wants to proceed with the retrenchments. We will obviously be part and parcel of the Section 189A retrenchment process.”

Labour expert Pulahela Mahoko says these types of engagements may produce better results for the workers.

[WATCH] Solidarity and Uasa says they will engage with ferrochrome producer Samancor to try and minimize the number of workers to be retrenched. 2400 workers are set to be retrenched by the mining company.#sabcnews #UpdateAtNoon pic.twitter.com/esD1BLiOgE

— SABC News Radio (@SABCNews_Radio) March 16, 2026

“When one reads the media statement, one can view this as a fait accompli. But if parties can go into the process with an open mind, and not adopt a positional bargaining approach, we believe that even if they do not save the 2 400 jobs as anticipated, they might still save quite a number of jobs in this regard.”

In a statement, Samancor says it is committed to engage in this process transparently, and in good faith.