Business Day
*Miners issue death threats at Lonmin's Karee mine* *Staff Writer, Business Day, Johannesburg, 5 September 2012*STRIKING miners on Wednesday said Lonmin management had until Thursday to close the main shaft at its Karee platinum mine or they would end up dead and the mine would be burnt down.
More than 3,000 striking miners marched on Wednesday morning through the streets near Lonmin's Marikana platinum mine in the North West, the largest protest at the hot spot since police shot dead 34 of their colleagues last month.
They arrived at the Karee mine, about 5km away, before lunch in an apparent attempt to stop their colleagues there from working. Police kept a close watch as two helicopters circled overhead.
Workers have been on strike for the past three weeks, demanding a monthly salary of R12,500.
Lonmin manager Jan Thiroun, escorted by two heavily armed bodyguards, told the miners' representatives on Wednesday to go back to the negotiating table and sign the peace accord.
"Violence doesn't solve anything. It is not in everyone's interest," he said.
On August 16, police fired on a group of protesting miners near the Marikana mine, killing 34 and wounding 78. Another 10 people were killed earlier that week, including two police officers and two security guards.
On Wednesday, the marchers carried knobkerries, sticks and iron rods and, as they marched, sang: "We died because of (President Jacob) Zuma. (Bantu) Holomisa please come and rescue us." They also carried placards bearing pictures of their dead colleagues.
Police were unable to prevent the marchers from entering the town of Marikana. Five Nyala armoured personnel carriers were parked at the town's entrance in an attempt to divert the march, but the crowd pushed its way around the vehicles and continued to the Karee mine.
As they passed the Karee West informal settlement, next to the mine, residents cheered in support. Men whistled and women ululated as the group passed by. They also shouted: "Viva R12,500. Viva."
After the march to the Karee mine, a few hundred protesters convened in Marikana near the site of last month's shooting. Members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union sang: "Down with sellouts, down with NUM (the National Union of Mineworkers). Rise, workers, rise."
One worker said he expected Lonmin management to respond to their demands on Wednesday afternoon. "We will talk. We marched. The management will come," he said.
Peace talks between workers' representatives, unions, the Department of Labour and Lonmin management were expected to continue on Wednesday in Rustenburg.
* /With Sapa and Alistair Anderson /*From: http://www.bdlive.co.za/national/2012/09/05/miners-issue-death-threats-at-lonmins-karee-mine*
** ** -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] .
<<inline: BusinessDay.gif>>
