Political parties and labour bodies have reacted with alarm to De Beers' announcement of a two-year production pause at Venetia Mine, warning of the toll the move could take on workers, contractors and the wider Vhembe District economy.
Venetia, in Limpopo's Vhembe District, is South Africa's largest diamond mine by value, producing more than 40% of the country's diamonds and supporting about 4,400 employees and contractors. De Beers has said the mine will not close permanently, but tha...