LEADERS of the National Union of Mineworkers distributed weapons to members before clashes with striking miners at the Lonmin offices where two people were shot.
This event, on August 11 last year, is said to have been the turning point that forced striking miners to relocate from the Wonderkop Stadium in Marikana to a koppie out of fear for their safety.
This was also the first day of violence leading to more than 40 deaths by August 16.
But NUM witnesses have defended their decision to take up arms, saying it was made after a tip-off from Lonmin security that striking rockdrillers would attack the NUM leaders and burn down its offices.
This evidence has so far been attested to by the union's chief negotiator at Lonmin Erick Gcilitshana, branch leader Malesela Setelele and a witness who took the stand yesterday, Saziso Gegeleza.
Gegeleza, who resolved not to join the illegal strike, said he was told the weapons were obtained by shop stewards from striking workers who had tried to intimidate some workers from going to work.
He explained that he was told (to do so) by deceased branch secretary Daluvuyo Bongo, who was distributing weapons to those present at the NUM office.
"I was given a knobkerrie and a spear," he said, adding that there would ordinarily not be any weapons there.
The commission learnt from Gclilitshana last week that some of those who gathered on August 11, to protect the NUM offices, carried guns.
Yesterday, Gegeleza told the hearing "a level of fear" was added when security guards could not guarantee their safety that day.
Moments later, striking workers emerged while NUM officials stood waiting outside the offices.
"They were singing and chanting in an aggressive manner. They were armed with knobkerries and sticks and I could see that several of them had assegais," Gegeleza said.
In what appeared to be an attempt to dismiss assertions that the miners could have come there with the intention to speak to their leaders, Gegeleza said the group was far from peaceful.
While the two groups charged at each other, gun shots rang out, he said.
- nhlabathih@sowetan.co.za
NUM's call to arms
LEADERS of the National Union of Mineworkers distributed weapons to members before clashes with striking miners at the Lonmin offices where two people were shot.
This event, on August 11 last year, is said to have been the turning point that forced striking miners to relocate from the Wonderkop Stadium in Marikana to a koppie out of fear for their safety.
This was also the first day of violence leading to more than 40 deaths by August 16.
But NUM witnesses have defended their decision to take up arms, saying it was made after a tip-off from Lonmin security that striking rockdrillers would attack the NUM leaders and burn down its offices.
This evidence has so far been attested to by the union's chief negotiator at Lonmin Erick Gcilitshana, branch leader Malesela Setelele and a witness who took the stand yesterday, Saziso Gegeleza.
Gegeleza, who resolved not to join the illegal strike, said he was told the weapons were obtained by shop stewards from striking workers who had tried to intimidate some workers from going to work.
He explained that he was told (to do so) by deceased branch secretary Daluvuyo Bongo, who was distributing weapons to those present at the NUM office.
"I was given a knobkerrie and a spear," he said, adding that there would ordinarily not be any weapons there.
The commission learnt from Gclilitshana last week that some of those who gathered on August 11, to protect the NUM offices, carried guns.
Yesterday, Gegeleza told the hearing "a level of fear" was added when security guards could not guarantee their safety that day.
Moments later, striking workers emerged while NUM officials stood waiting outside the offices.
"They were singing and chanting in an aggressive manner. They were armed with knobkerries and sticks and I could see that several of them had assegais," Gegeleza said.
In what appeared to be an attempt to dismiss assertions that the miners could have come there with the intention to speak to their leaders, Gegeleza said the group was far from peaceful.
While the two groups charged at each other, gun shots rang out, he said.
- nhlabathih@sowetan.co.za
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