Impala Platinum Holdings Limited has rejected claims that [it and other] ...platinum mining companies have been involved in tax evasion activities. “Implats refutes these allegations in the strongest possible terms and views the inflammatory and unsubstantiated allegation of criminal behaviour in a very serious light,” spokesperson Johan Theron said...“We have a zero-tolerance stance on fraud and corruption and comply with all legislative and regulatory requirements governing our businesses.” All taxation activities were subject to careful assessment by the company’s external auditors and the country’s tax authorities. Theron said the audited financial statements and accounts were open for interrogation and scrutiny. [The allegations were made by] Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) negotiator Brian Ashley [who] told the media...that platinum companies were negotiating in bad faith and might be guilty of tax and wage evasion...