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Lonmin halts work on new mine shaft amid strike
Source: Agencies |
September 18, 2012, Tuesday
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Print Edition
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LONDON-REGISTERED Lonmin PLC announced yesterday it is halting construction of a new mine shaft, putting 1,200 people out of work, as South Africa's bloody and bitter mining strike dragged into its fifth week.
The strikes that have stopped work at seven gold and platinum mines have spread to the chrome sector, according to the official South African Press Association.
Meanwhile, police blocked rabble-rousing politician Julius Malema from addressing some 3,000 strikers gathered at a stadium at the Lonmin mine at Marikana, northwest of Johannesburg. "Arrest him!" one officer ordered, giving Malema 20 minutes to leave or face arrest. This caused Malema to take off with his entourage.
"I'm leaving. We're getting out of here. Why are you chasing me? Are you going to shoot me?" Malema taunted.
Police on August 16 shot 112 striking Lonmin miners, killing 34, in the worst state violence since apartheid ended in 1994.
Malema, who was expelled from the ruling African National Congress in April for "sowing disunity," has called for a nationwide mining strike, feeding on the anger of miners to boost his campaign to oust South African President Jacob Zuma as leader of the ANC.
Armed soldiers for the first time joined police in armored cars standing guard at Lonmin earlier yesterday.
In Johannesburg, Zuma called for a speedy resolution to the mining strikes. He said the strikes this year have cost South Africa close to 4.5 billion rand (US$563 million) in lost gold and platinum production.
Aquarius Platinum said work had resumed at its mine yesterday, and Anglo American Platinum said it would restart operations today under police protection at its four mines. Anglo American is the world's largest platinum producer, Lonmin the third largest.
A strike leader said some miners at Samancor Chrome stopped work on Friday demanding a minimum take-home pay of 12,500 rand. The company said it had shut down operations voluntarily to protect workers from intimidation.
The strikes that have stopped work at seven gold and platinum mines have spread to the chrome sector, according to the official South African Press Association.
Meanwhile, police blocked rabble-rousing politician Julius Malema from addressing some 3,000 strikers gathered at a stadium at the Lonmin mine at Marikana, northwest of Johannesburg. "Arrest him!" one officer ordered, giving Malema 20 minutes to leave or face arrest. This caused Malema to take off with his entourage.
"I'm leaving. We're getting out of here. Why are you chasing me? Are you going to shoot me?" Malema taunted.
Police on August 16 shot 112 striking Lonmin miners, killing 34, in the worst state violence since apartheid ended in 1994.
Malema, who was expelled from the ruling African National Congress in April for "sowing disunity," has called for a nationwide mining strike, feeding on the anger of miners to boost his campaign to oust South African President Jacob Zuma as leader of the ANC.
Armed soldiers for the first time joined police in armored cars standing guard at Lonmin earlier yesterday.
In Johannesburg, Zuma called for a speedy resolution to the mining strikes. He said the strikes this year have cost South Africa close to 4.5 billion rand (US$563 million) in lost gold and platinum production.
Aquarius Platinum said work had resumed at its mine yesterday, and Anglo American Platinum said it would restart operations today under police protection at its four mines. Anglo American is the world's largest platinum producer, Lonmin the third largest.
A strike leader said some miners at Samancor Chrome stopped work on Friday demanding a minimum take-home pay of 12,500 rand. The company said it had shut down operations voluntarily to protect workers from intimidation.
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