South African workers at the Lonmin strike area where platinum is extracted. Violence in the mines has resulted in over 40 deaths in August 2012., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
COSATU condemns violence at Lonmin and breakaway ‘union’ NATAWU
16 August 2012
A special meeting of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the Congress of South African Trade Unions was today given a briefing by its affiliates NUM and SATAWU on serious developments within the trade union movement.
COSATU is appalled at the latest violence at the Lonmin Mine and surrounding areas, which today claimed a further 18 lives at the Wonderkop squatter camp.
According to a SAPA report, police tried to disperse striking workers gathered on top of a hill, wielding pangas and chanting war songs. It ended in a three-minute shootout between the two groups, after police fired teargas and then used a water cannon to disperse the strikers, who retaliated by firing live ammunition at the police. A reporter at the scene said he counted 18 bodies
The federation extends its condolences to the families and friends of all those who have lost their lives in this latest violence and reiterates its call for workers to observe maximum discipline and unity in the face of a ruthless attempt to divide and weaken them. The CEC pledged its full support the National Union of Mineworkers’ efforts to resolve this situation.
The CEC also strongly condemned the breakaway ‘union’, NATAWU, led by the former President of the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) Ephraim Mphahlele.
In particular the CEC condemned its use of violence and intimidation, and the illegal use of the COSATU logo, to give the entirely false impression that they are linked in some way with the federation. We will seek an urgent interdict to stop this use of COSATU’s logo.
COSATU confirms that SATAWU is its only affiliate in the transport, security and service sectors. The federation has no connection at all with NATAWU and urges all workers in the workplaces organised by SATAWU to remain loyal to their union.
The CEC agreed to convene an urgent meeting of the unions’ leaderships to discuss what is emerging as a co-ordinated political strategy to use intimidation and violence, manipulated by disgruntled former union leaders, in a concerted drive to create breakaway ‘unions’ and divide and weaken the trade union movement.
COSATU calls upon all workers to remain vigilant but calm in the face of the most serious challenge to workers’ unite and strength for many years.
Patrick Craven (National Spokesperson)
Congress of South African Trade Unions
Tel: +27 11 339-4911 or Direct: +27 10 219-1339
Mobile: +27 82 821 7456
E-Mail: patrick@cosatu.org.za
NUM statement on developments at Lonmin
16 August 2012
The National Union of Mineworkers expresses condolences to the affected families of the ten victims who died at Lonmin and regret this loss of life.The NUM maintains that the loss of life was unnecessary and violence should never be allowed to replace dialogue. The NUM further maintains that it is not in a clash with any organisation at Lonmin but that there are concerted attacks on its membership at the platinum producer.
Background: Undermining bargaining structures
The background to the violence at Lonmin lies in the companies undermining bargaining processes and structures. This trend has its roots at Impala Platinum where the company unilaterally adjusted wages for certain categories of employees leaving others out. This led to some elements founding a loophole to exploit, especially forces of violence.
Lonmin followed suit. Ignoring an existing collective agreement, the company undermined the bargaining process by unilaterally offering an allowance of between R750-250 to rock-drill operators outside the bargaining process.
Inconsistency in the application of labour policies
The NUM has noted with serious concern inconsistencies in the application of labour policies and discipline at both Lonmin and Impala where its members have to apply three days in advance to have a gathering whereas other trade unions or even groupings can have gatherings without following procedure with no consequences.
Violence and anarchy must be contextualised
It is worrying that violence is increasingly becoming a culture of the South African society at large where people opt out of dialogue in favour of violence and destruction of property. We have seen instances where communities protest over lack of service delivery but destroy the very infrastructure that they already have such as schools, libraries etc. It has become part of the South African culture where other people eliminate others because they are either a political threat or due to the fact that they have information about them on corruption.
Social Challenges
The various social challenges that the country faces such as the ever increasing number of informal settlements next to mining areas; high unemployment; the continuous existence of single sex hostels; the increasing number of the working poor exacerbated by the continuous existence of the apartheid wage gap and tribalism would if not curbed result in large scale disintegration of the South African society.
Furthermore the high levels of indebtedness of the workforce and the blacklisting of workers by credit bureaus exacerbate the situation as more workers look for shortcuts to having money.
Failure to comply with transformation
The NUM argues that failure to comply with transformation targets as well as polices such as the mining charter and the social labour plans is detrimental to the mining industry. If the captains of the industry were to comply, there could be minimal social challenges which will in turn yield positive results for them.
Weaknesses in law enforcement
There are huge weaknesses in our law enforcement such as defocussed intelligence as well as inconsistencies in law enforcement. The NUM is worried of the high levels of corruption in the system where dockets disappear.
Responsibility by the Chamber of Mines
The NUM believes that the Chamber of Mines for example has to take full responsibility for the challenges in the mining industry as many of them are due to their inaction.
Way forward
As a way forward, the NUM appeals to all workers to go back to work and for the law enforcement agencies to crack down the culprits of the violence and murders. The union further appeals to the authorities to ensure successful prosecution of those arrested.
Part of the way forward should include Lonmin conducting an investigation on how its inaction has led to all these. The NUM demands that the families of the deceased must be compensated as if the deceased died on duty. Workers must be paid what is due to them as they have always been available to go to work but the company could not provide them with transport and security.
The NUM believes that these challenges in the mining industry are an invitation to all stakeholders which includes the producers, the unions and the regulators to a dialogue to discuss amongst others the discrepancies in wages between the highest paid and the lowest paid workers.
The NUM further urge political opportunists to refrain from using genuine working class challenges for their own benefit and narrow political interests.
Frans Baleni- (NUM General Secretary)- 082 375 6443
Lesiba Seshoka- (NUM Spokesman)- 082 803 6719
Lesiba Seshoka (Spokesman)
National Union of Mineworkers
7 Rissik Street
Cnr Frederick
Johannesburg
Tel: 011 377 2047
Cell: 082 803 6719
COSATU condemns the ongoing violence at Lonmin
14 August 2012
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) condemns the ongoing violence at Lonmin mine, which has claimed the lives of at least nine people since its outbreak. The federation extends its condolences to the families and friends of the mine workers, security personnel and police officers who have lost their lives in the violence.
The federation believes that violence is in this case used as a political strategy to intimidate workers into making political choices about their association. It is no coincidence that similar incidents of violence engulfed Implats in Rustenburg and that the common factor in both cases is a splinter union which is hell-bent to utilise violence to further its political aims.
COSATU calls on Lonmin to initiate a full investigation into the violence. We also call on law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned and bring the culprits to justice.
The federation appeals to workers to observe maximum discipline and unity in the face of a political strategy geared towards dividing them and weakening their position in relation to mine bosses and capitalists.
COSATU will continue to support the National Union of Mineworkers’ efforts to resolve this situation.
Issued by:
Phindile Kunene (Shopsteward Magazine Editor)
Mobile: +27 79 167 9544 or 82 494 2409
Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24
Fax: +27 11 339-5080 / 6940
E-mail: phindi@cosatu.org.za
NUM calls for a Special Task Force in the mines
13 August 2012
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) condemns in the strongest possible words the continuous killings of innocent poor mineworkers in Rustenburg. The NUM is alarmed that the situation in the platinum mines and its escalating violence has been allowed to continue unabated by the law enforcement agencies in that area in North West Province. Six people which includes two members of the South African Police Services, two miners and two members of the mine security team have died in the senseless violence ravaging Lonmin. One of the two workers was stabbed whilst inside the mine premises last night whilst the other was shot five times this morning. The two members of the mine security were shot at whilst one of their cars was burnt down.
“We call for the deployment of a special task force or the SANDF to deal decisively with the criminal elements in Rustenburg and its surrounding mines” says Frans Baleni, the NUM General Secretary.
Meanwhile, some police officers have reportedly been disarmed of their service rifles and a huge group of these criminals has been seen gathering at the mountain top near Karee mine for a possible attack tonight.
“We appeal for the deployment of the Special Task Force as a matter of urgency before things run out of hand. For months on end we have argued that the situation in Rustenburg requires special intervention and we seeing no difference” says Baleni.
The NUM maintains that there has not been any clashes between its members and members of a rival union. “Our members have been attacked and that cannot be said to be clashes or rivalry, it is pure criminality” says Baleni. Meanwhile, there has not been any work at Karee mine today.
Frans Baleni- (NUM General Secretary)- 082 375 6443
Lesiba Seshoka- (NUM National Spokesman)- 082 803 6719
Lesiba Seshoka (Spokesman)
National Union of Mineworkers
7 Rissik Street
Cnr Frederick
Johannesburg
Tel: 011 377 2047
Cell: 082 803 6719
COSATU NW condemns the killing of workers at Lonmin
13 August 2012
The Congress of South African Trade Unions in the North West has condemned the continued spate of attack on the National Union of Mine workers in the Rustenburg Region.
COSATU has observed that this attack is moving from one mine to the other and now it has moved to Lonmin and nothing is done by the authorities to stop this attack.
What is also painful is that workers looses their lives leaving families without bread winners and therefore hunger and poverty enters those families.
COSATU want to remind AMCU that the constitution of our country allows workers a freedom of association and that right has been extended in the labour relations act which give workers the rights and powers to form their unions, and not to be forced to join some fly-by night unions.
COSATU calls on the police to arrest all those criminals who gather without applying as required by the public gathering act and arrest those who are implicated in the murdering of innocent mine workers.
It is not true that the police are not aware of who is behind this criminal activities.
Such criminal activities were experienced at Impala and all those who were arrested on same association stopped workers not to go to work demanding the release of those who were suspect on the murder and assault of workers.
COSATU NW has been puzzled on why people are given bail more than two times on the matter and it is without any doubt that both the police, the prosecution, including management are together in this criminal activities of destroying NUM.
This also includes destroying the lives of innocent people who want to go to work.
COSATU NW is calling on the police to do their work and not buy faces of those, who have capital power.
We further calling our national government to intervene on these criminals who are busy destroying our 18 years democracy, which is currently being undermined by some few people both at Impala and Lonmin.
COSATU NW argues that workers must be safe in the hands of the police, and workers must be allowed to choose their Union.
It cannot be correct that every time our members are killed, the police response will be that they do not who is the culprit.
COSATU NW has seen same things happening at Impala, now is LONMIN at Aquarium mine and the police are quick to arrest, why?
COSATU North West would like to take this opportunity to send a message of condolence to the families, who have lost their loved ones and may their soul rest in peace.
And wish also those who are hospitalized, a speedy recovery.
For more information contact: Cde Solly Phetoe-NW Provincial Secretary 082 304 4055
Norman Mampane (Communications Officer)
Congress of South African Trade Unions
Tel: +27 11 339-4911 or Direct 010 219-1342
Mobile: +27 72 416 3790
E-Mail: mampane@cosatu.org.za
Press Statements
Author : Jackson Mthembu
The deaths in Marikana mines
16 August 2012
The African National Congress is shocked and saddened at the killings that resulted from the labour dispute in the Lonmin mines in Marikana.
It is the view of the ANC that these deaths could have been avoided had the trade union operating at Lonmins and Lonmin mine management found a resolution to the dispute. Even at this late stage where blood has been spilled and lives lost, we call upon the union involved and the employer at Lonmin mines to find a last resolution at this stage. If all parties involved in the dispute had used all legislative avenues available within the realm of the labour markets this could have been averted.
The resurgence of violence and resultant deaths and injuries, following a lull at the initial stages of this dispute, are regrettable and have stained what has been a healthy climate in our labour relations since the dawn of democracy. The stand-off that characterized the unwillingness of all parties could have been avoided if all parties had acted in good faith and in respect of our laws.
We call on our government to undertake an inquiry to investigate this ugly violence with the intention to establish what caused it and to act on the findings. We convey our condolences to all the families that lost their loved ones and wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured and hospitalized. Whilst we respect the rights of any worker and union to engage in an industrial action, we reiterate our belief that violence in any industrial action cannot and doesn`t strengthen the hand of the striking union or workers, on the contrary it weakens any trade union and makes it to lose respect and sympathy of the general populace in our country.
Issued by:
Jackson Mthembu
ANC National Spokesperson
African National Congress
54 Sauer Street
Johannesburg
2001
Enquiries
Keith Khoza 0828239672
Ishmael Mnisi 0823335550
Press Statements
Author : Jackson Mthembu
ANC condemns Lonmin Mine attacks
15 August 2012
The African National Congress (ANC) condemns the recent spate of violent protest at the Lonmin Platinum mine at Marikana in Rustenburg, between the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU, which led to the killing of ten (10) mine workers.
The ANC respect the workers’ constitutional right to protest, but we disapprove the killing of innocent people associated to any of the unions.
We convey our heartfelt condolences to the families of the 10 people killed during the protest. Their death is not only a loss to their families, but also a loss to the entire nation. We also wish the wounded workers a speedy recovery.
We are pleased that NUM, AMCU and Lonmin Platinum Mine management have agreed to meet to resolve the apparent debacle between them, and hope that an amicable solution will be arrived at quickly.
The ANC commends the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) for their swift intervention and the deployment of about three thousand (3000) heavily armed police personnel in and around the mine precinct. The police presence has indeed suppressed tensions, and we are thrilled that calm has been restored. We call upon the police to make sure that the culprits responsible for the murders are arrested.
Issued by:
Jackson Mthembu
ANC National Spokesperson
African National Congress
54 Sauer Street
Johannesburg
2001
Enquiries:
Ishmael Mnisi 0823335550
Keith Khoza 0828239672
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