adminWorkers blocked colleagues from going down mine shafts and used threats of violence to snarl transport at Lonmin’s Marikana mine – where 10 people were killed in a union turf war and police shot dead 34 striking miners.
Last week, South Africa held a week of mourning for those killed in the worst violence of its kind since the end of apartheid, which drew attention to the persistent inequality in pay and living standards in Africa’s biggest economy.
The miners’ strike has raised fears of cuts in supplies of the precious metal and pushed the spot price of platinum up 10.5 percent over the past fortnight. South Africa has some 80 percent of the world’s known platinum reserves.
Suspected police brutality and the problems the government faces in brokering a deal between the rival unions have turned up the heat on the ruling African National Congress and stoked concern about wider labour disputes in the country.
“What we have seen is that if you don’t stand up as people, nothing is going to change,” said mine worker Thebe Seshanke.
Lonmin, which has suspended most operations for the past two weeks because of a wage strike by 3 000 workers, said only 13 percent of its 28 000-strong workforce had shown up yesterday morning — far too few to restart mining operations.
“There have been incidents of intimidation towards bus drivers overnight as well as intimidation of Eastern’s workers this morning, preventing them from coming to work,” Lonmin said in a statement, referring to its eastern operations, which had avoided such incidents until now.
Police said there had been reports yesterday of assaults, but gave no details.
Lonmin is the world’s third largest producer of platinum, the white metal used in car catalytic converters and jewelry, and accounts for 12 percent of global output. It is losing about 2 500 ounces a day.
The violence stemmed from a bloody turf war, which has been spreading through the sector, between the dominant National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the small but militant Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU).
About 2 000 workers, some carrying sticks and whips, gathered yesterday near a hill where police shot dead striking miners on August 16. Five armoured police vehicles were parked nearby and a police helicopter had earlier hovered overhead.
The AMCU has tapped a swelling vein of discontent with the NUM, whose leaders are increasingly seen as out of touch and too close to their political ally — the ruling ANC.
The strikers, who are rock driller operators, have been demanding a monthly wage of 12,500 rand for their tough and dangerous job. The company says they get about 9 800 rand with an average monthly bonus of 1 500 rand.
Separately, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate said it was investigating more than 100 cases in which police are suspected of assaulting protesters in custody. About 260 miners appeared in a court near Marikana to face charges ranging from murder and attempted murder to intimidation.
ANC insiders say the situation could undermine President Jacob Zuma’s populist appeal and hurt his chances of being re-elected ANC leader in December.
The August 16 shootings, dubbed the “Marikana Massacre” by local media, have hit Zuma’s support base, widening the divide between him and his former backers in the ANC Youth League and straining his ties with labor.
In another development Eastern Platinum, a small producer, said its operations near Lonmin’s were up and running. The NUM had said earlier that workers there were facing intimidation.
Lonmin has said it may issue new shares to shore up a balance sheet hit by lost output and revenue, and the prospect of further losses — at a time when the whole platinum sector is struggling with soaring power and labour costs and weak demand.
Meanwhile, security was tight at Ga-Rankuwa Magistrate’s Court yesterday as a batch of 25 mineworkers were brought into court before 2pm.
Dozens of police officers accompanied the mineworkers into court. Some of the miners were holding hands as they walked into court in a single file.
The group was part of 260 rock drillers who were arrested following violence at the Lonmin mine, in Marikana, North West.
They face a variety of charges including murder, attempted murder, armed robbery and public violence.
A miner who appeared in absentia last week had apparently been discharged from hospital and was expected to appear yesterday.
Benches on the left side of the court were reserved for the miners, while media and a few other people packed the right side.
Suspended ANC Youth League members Floyd Shivambu and Sindiso Magaqa were among the people in court.
Last Monday, the mineworkers appeared in batches of 40.
In the morning, two groups of protesters merged outside the court entrance, demanding the release of the mineworkers.
The energetic protesters were waving placards. Some of the placards read: “Drop the charges, amnesty for all strikers arrested”, “The real criminals are SAPS and Lonmin”, and “Phiyega you are a criminal”.
The mineworkers were brought to court in trucks, escorted by members of the police’s tactical response teams. The convoy drove past the protesters at the entrance at about 10 am.
The miners could be seen peeping through the small windows of the trucks, and banging on the sides.
As the trucks made their way onto the court premises, the protesters went into frenzied singing, chanting and wailing.
The main entrance to the court had been sealed off by police officers with shields, wearing helmets.
Two Nyala armoured vehicles were parked near the entrance.
In the previous appearance, last Monday, the court heard that the 260 mineworkers were arrested following violent protests at Lonmin’s platinum mine.
Thirty four people were shot and killed while police were trying to disperse protesters. Over 78 people were wounded. Ten people had already died in the week before the clash.
Then, the State asked for a seven-day postponement, saying the ongoing investigations were wide and complex.
The investigation would allow the State to unravel what happened at the mine, and additional charges would be laid later.
The State said the probe would be complicated by the fact that some of the miners were immigrants.—Reuters-Sapa
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