/This is not "violence between". It is pure criminality against the organised working class./
Business Day *Police boss bids to end mine violence as nine die in clashes**Monde Maoto And Natasha Marrian, Business Day, Johannesburg, 14 August 2012*
POLICE Commissioner Riah Phiyega is reported to have travelled to Lonmin's Marikana mine in North West last night, to meet the task force appointed to deal with escalating violence between members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), and those of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu).
By late last night nine people including two policemen had reportedly been killed in clashes between trade unions at the mine, operated by the world's third-largest platinum producer. It was by far the deadliest spate of violence in an escalating turf war rocking the sector.
Of those who died earlier, two were mineworkers, two were security guards and the remaining two were members of the South African Police Service, in what Barnard Mokwena, the company's executive vice-president for human capital and external affairs, described as attacks by unknown assailants. "We have no idea as to who they are, as these people use covert tactics, and are targeting soft targets," Mr Mokwena said.
Lonmin has 40,000 employees working at Marikana, and relations between Amcu and the NUM have grown tense since the former claimed to have obtained majority support at the Karee mining operation last year. Attempts by the union to expand to nearby Westerns platinum mine have been cited as the source of the conflicts.
Up until last year, the NUM enjoyed majority support at Karee, Western Platinum and Eastern Platinum. "Last year there was a branch strike at Karee ... the workers were suspended and the NUM dissolved the branch. Subsequently there were no NUM branches at Karee," Mr Mokwena said.
Lonmin said late last night that the situation was "volatile" at its Western Platinum mine. The plant was operating at reduced capacity and was under heavy police guard.
Police told Reuters two policemen died after a machete attack by a mob near the mine. Another officer was badly injured and police in turn shot dead three protesters.
"We came under attack. The suspects took our weapons."A shoot-out ensued and during that incident three suspects were fatally injured," spokesman Lindela Mashigo told Reuters.
The mine is part of Lonmin's Marikana operations, which produced 1.3-million ounces of platinum group metals in 2011.
With Reuters*From: http://www.bdlive.co.za/business/mining/2012/08/14/police-boss-bids-to-end-mine-violence-as-nine-die-in-clashes*
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