Trouble in the deep

When Dan Mahupela ascended to the top post at BCL Mine on September 1, 2011 his only comfort in entering the historically hostile labour sector’s gunsights was that he could not possibly become as unloved as his predecessor, Monty Mphathi.

After all, during his tumultuous eight years as BCL general manager, Mphathi, had become the subject of an intense union campaign, triggered in part by a harsh strike and the subsequent dismissal of 181 workers in 2005, followed by several high level departures and other unpopular decisions.