EXHIBIT 4.75
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
REACHED BETWEEN
BUFFELSFONTEIN GOLD MINES LIMITED
BUFFELSFONTEIN DIVISION
(HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS 'THE COMPANY')
AND
THE NATIONAL UNION OF MINEWORKERS
THE UNITED ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICA
THE MINE WORKERS UNION (SOLIDARITY)
THE SOUTH AFRICAN ELECTRICAL WORKERS ASSOCIATION
(HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE UNIONS)
REGARDING
NO'S 9, 10 AND 12 SHAFTS
OF BUFFELSFONTEIN DIVISION
1. APPLICATION OF AGREEMENT
This agreement will apply to all employees employed in the recognized
bargaining units as respectively represented by the below mentioned Unions
:
(i) The National Union of Mineworkers.
(ii) The United Association of South Africa.
(iii) The Mine Workers Union (Solidarity)
(iv) The South African Electrical Workers Association.
2. PREAMBLE
The Unions have concluded the following initiatives to be implemented at
the Company so as to avoid or alternatively minimize retrenchment of
employees in terms of the current sixty day review exercise and the
imminent closure of No's 9, 10 and 12 Shafts at Buffelsfontein Division.
3. TERMS OF THE MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING
The following arrangements will apply at No's 9, 10 and 12 Shafts :
3.1 Total closure of No 9 Shaft as from 1 September 2004.
3.2 No's 10 and 12 Shafts will remain operating during the current
financial year subject to clauses 3.3 and 3.4 below.
3.3 Production and financial targets will be measured on a weekly and
monthly basis at No's 10 and 12 Shafts.
3.4 Major deviations from set targets will be addressed with organised
labour to determine the sustainability of these shafts.
3.5 Current shift cycles will remain.
4. CONDITIONS TO APPLY
4.1 The sixty day review and the Section 189A facilitation in respect of
the Buffelsfontein Division (No's 10 and 12 Shafts) is hereby
suspended subject to clauses 3.4 and 4.2 respectively.
4.2 This Memorandum of Understanding is further dependent on the
effective introduction of the proposals and the measures that are
introduced proving to be effective in restoring Buffelsfontein
Division to profitability, and on the company attaining a
sustainable gold price : cost ratio i.e. budgeted tonnage, grade,
kilogram and working costs.
5. INTERVENTIONS TO SUSTAIN PROFITABILITY AT NO'S 10 AND 12 SHAFTS
The Company undertakes to investigate with organised labour the following:
5.1 To reclaim all redundant stock and material at No's 9 and 11 Shaft
respectively.
5.2 To embark on a vamping process in order to reclaim 'old gold' from
all underground operations at Buffelsfontein Division,
5.3 To commence with immediate effect opening-up and development
operations at No's 10 and 12 Shafts to create face length
opportunities at these shafts.
5.4 To close down East Hostel at No 10 Shaft by end August 2004 in order
to save costs on water end electricity. Employees will be
accommodated at Pioneer Hostel with the proviso that renovations
would be affected pending discussions between the N.U.M. structures
and Management.
6. AVOIDANCE MEASURES
The Company and representatives of the Unions will, with immediate effect,
commence with consultation sessions to discuss all possible avoidance
measures on or before 26 August 2004 viz, in accordance with the relevant
Retrenchment Agreements.
6.1 Redeployment of affected workers into vacancies at No's 10 and 12
Shafts.
6.2 Employees who are still redundant, after all avoidance measures have
been exhausted, will be retrenched in accordance with the
Retrenchment Agreements that exist between the Company and
respective Unions.
7. J I C - NO 12 SHAFT
J I C needs to sign a new contract pertaining to mining operations of No
12 Shaft to ensure sustainable operations as proposed by the consultative
forum. Shaft engineering will remain the responsibility of North West
Operations.
8. All parties are committed to ensure the application of this agreement in
order to secure jobs at No's 10 and 12 Shafts.
9. DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Any party may invoke the mechanism of dispute resolution as embodied in
the Labour Relations Act in the event of a dispute arising in as far as
the
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interpretation and application of this Memorandum of Understanding is
concerned.
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THUS SIGNED AT STILFONTEIN ON THIS 6TH DAY OF AUGUST 2004.
/s/ H.J. van Vuuren
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For NORTHWEST OPERATIONS WITNESSES 1. ______________________
2. ______________________
___________________________
For NATIONAL UNION OF MINE- WITNESSES 1. ______________________
WORKERS
2. ______________________
___________________________
For SOLIDARITY WITNESSES 1. ______________________
2. ______________________
___________________________
For S A E W A WITNESSES 1. ______________________
2. ______________________
___________________________
For U A S A WITNESSES 1. ______________________
2. ______________________