A Limpopo community trust was being used by its management and the Bokoni Platinum mine to further personal interests, workers at the mine said on Saturday.

The protesting workers rejected a once-off payment offered by the trust’s management in an effort to resolve the month-long strike.

“The same managers of the trust are also contractors for the mine. We see this as a conflict of interest... the trust belongs to the community, not a few individuals,” said workers’ labour forum spokesman, Elias Jiba.

The workers rejected a R7,000 once-off payment offer from the trust and the management to return to work.  

More than 2,000 workers were fired for participating in the illegal strike last month. Formal dismissal notices were issued after a disciplinary hearing.

Management did not recognise the forum formed by workers and insisted on meeting with unions to resolve the impasse.

Mine spokesman Joel Kesler could not be reached for comment.