SOUTH AFRICA: Tension gathers outside Anglo Plats mine, as labour unrest spreads

Record ID: 340929

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Tension gathers outside Anglo Plats mine, as labour unrest spreads
  • Date: 9th October 2012
  • Summary: RUSTENBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (OCTOBER 8, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF STRIKING MINE WORKERS STANDING IN FRONT OF SIGN FOR ANGLO AMERICAN MINING COMPANY VARIOUS OF POLICE ON GUARD OUTSIDE MINE VARIOUS OF POLICE AND STRIKING MINERS STRIKING MINERS TALKING TO THE POLICE STRIKING MINERS WALKING IN THE STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Tswana) STRIKING MINER WORKER AT ANGLO PLATS, PATRICK MU
  • Embargoed: 24th October 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Employment,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7FQM2KSPAYX6TAP4D69Y8A9PJ
  • Story Text: Police confronted workers in South Africa at mining giant Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) on Monday (October 8), after the company fired 12,000 wildcat strikers on Friday (October 5).
    It was a high-stakes attempt by Anglo American to squash illegal stoppages that have hit output at seven of its mines.
    The dismissed workers were defiant and threatened a repeat of the showdown with security forces at rival Lonmin's Marikana mine that led to the police killing of 34 miners on Aug. 16, the bloodiest such incident since the end of apartheid in 1994.
    Workers said at least some of the dismissals were sent via text messages, however not all the workers received a message, so some didn't know whether they were part of the group who had been fired or not.
    "We did not receive any text messages informing us about the situation at the mine, so as group we decided to go on our own to find out from the management what is really happening, but we were refused entry at the gate," striking miner, Patrick Musenekge, said outside the Anglo Plats mine in Rustenburg.
    Amplants was expected to release a statement on the issue of the text messages later on Monday.
    Since August, close to 100,000 workers, including 75,000 in the mining sector, have downed tools in often illegal and violent protests that look likely to hit growth this year and undermine the government's efforts to cut its budget deficit.
    The strikes, which started in the platinum industry and spread to other mining companies and beyond, have raised questions about President Jacob Zuma's leadership, who faces a re-election battle within ANC in December, and tarnished South Africa's reputation among foreign investors.
    "The level-headed people are basically ducking for cover at the moment, it's the hot heads are busy running in at the moment, and even if after the elective conference you say: 'Right, now we've got the political will to try and control it.' How long will you bring it under control? Or will we have these rolling strikes start to manifest themselves for the next year or two?" economic analyst Chris Hart said.
    On Monday, South Africa's local government workers' union also said it would launch a strike over pay in the next few days, in the first sign of the wave of labour unrest is spreading from the mines into the public sector.
    Since the end of apartheid in 1994, workers have won steady wage increases, but millions of jobless South Africans have missed out on the gains, becoming reliant on the state or relatives for help.
    Each miner supports on average eight to 10 people, often living in abject poverty, according to industry data, so the sackings at Amplants on Friday could cut off income to more than 100,000 people.
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