Two Dead in Violence at South Africa Mine

Workers from the Harmony Gold's Kusasalethu mine have agreed to return to work after a weeks-long strike. Strikes have been taking place across the country for several months., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Two dead in violence at South Africa mine

2:17am November 24, 2012
9 News World

A South African gold mining company says two of its workers have been killed and another injured in violence at one of its mines as unrest continues in the industry.

Harmony Gold Mining Co Ltd says the attack happened late on Thursday at its Kusasalethu mine near Carletonville, about 80 kilometres southwest of Johannesburg.

Harmony says production at the mine has not been affected by the attack and police have begun an investigation.

The killings come after weeks of labour unrest at mines across South Africa, one of the nation's biggest economic engines.

Violence during strikes at Lonmin's platinum mine near Marikana led to the deaths of 46 people, including 34 miners who were shot dead by police.

An Anglican archbishop in South Africa on Friday proposed that a hill at the mining site be declared a national monument.

Jo Seoka, who also became a mediator between Lonmin mine owners and the surviving miners, made the suggestion as he concluded his testimony to an inquiry into the killings.

"According to African culture and beliefs it is sacred space now. So many lives were lost there and their spirits are believed to be in that (place)," Seoka told the inquiry, according to local news agency SAPA.

Seoka was giving evidence to the judicial inquiry launched by President Jacob Zuma into the August 16 massacre.

Turning the rocky outcrop, dubbed the Hill of Horror, into a monument "will be a critical gesture to help in the healing of those that have been affected".

Violence at mining giant Lonmin's northwestern Marikana site, where around 50 people died during six weeks of unrest, was sparked by a stand-off between miners and mine owners over pay.

The bishop of the church's Pretoria diocese said the Marikana tragedy should help South Africa build "a platform to create long-term solutions that will make our country to be a better place".

That strike ended with a hefty pay rise for Lonmin's 28,000 workers but not before it set off a wave of strikes across the mining sector.

The inquiry is expected to conclude its probe in January.