Almost 1,800 mining jobs at risk as Petra Diamonds restructures operations

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has strongly condemned Petra Diamonds’ decision to place the Finch Diamond Mine in Kimberley under Business Rescue and issue a Section 189A notice at the Cullinan Diamond Mine, warning that nearly 1,800 jobs are at risk.

According to the union, the Business Rescue process at Finch has created uncertainty for about 689 workers, while the retrenchment consultation process at Cullinan threatens approximately 1,090 jobs.

NUM National Health and Safety Secretary and Petra Diamonds Chief Negotiator, Masibulele Naki, said workers should not be blamed for the company’s financial and operational challenges.

He argued that labour costs are often unfairly targeted while factors such as executive remuneration, management decisions, market conditions and operational inefficiencies also contribute to a company’s financial position.

The union acknowledged challenges facing the global diamond industry, including weak consumer demand, falling diamond prices, competition from laboratory-grown diamonds and broader economic pressures. However, it insisted that these factors—not workers’ wages—must be considered when assessing the future of the mines.

NUM warned that job losses would have serious social and economic consequences for workers, their families and mining communities that depend on the operations.

The union has called on South Africa’s government, including the Ministers responsible for mining, energy, trade and finance, to urgently intervene and convene stakeholders to explore measures to preserve jobs, sustain investment and protect the future of the affected mines.

NUM said it would participate fully in all consultation processes and use all available legal and collective bargaining mechanisms to defend workers’ right