The violence and death of 10 people at Lonmin's Western Platinum mines in Marikana conjure up scenes of the bloody unrest during the 1980s.

Reports attribute the conflict to rival unions - the National Union of Mineworkers and Association of Mineworkers and the Construction Union -fighting for membership.

Lonmin is the third mine at which conflict has resulted in deaths. Three people died when protests erupted at Impala Platinum and three more at Aquarius Platinum in January.

These incidents indicate a deeply embedded problem. It is easy to manipulate disgruntled people under horrible working conditions and exploitative salaries turn men into animals as brother slays brother.

It is sad that unions point fingers at one another instead of addressing the problem.

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Fri May 24 11:53:37 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 16, 2012

Chichi7

It is sad that unions point fingers at one another instead of addressing the problem
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it is even more sad when human beings start killing each other for a problem that can be resolved through amicable talks and negotiations.
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Aug 16, 2012

Eraser

this violence is gttin out of hand..the mine should shut down until they have come to an agreemnt
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Aug 16, 2012

Papage

Where is Vavi? he is suppose to be leading this guys to put down their weapons, his silent is not right at all.
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Aug 16, 2012

1tsotsi

Only President Malema can solve this, remember earlier this year it took him 10min, to calm the tense situation... Send Julius to resolve the issue.
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Aug 16, 2012

MOTHUBANNYO

The sad part about the whole thing is that BLACK is killing his own
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Aug 16, 2012

Lehido

i dont see how this members should fight for stupid things like this......Where are the union leaders in all this?
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Aug 16, 2012

Tsar-Rasputin

I saw a clip of miner dwellers on the news yesterdays. Those guys are armed like Inkatha in the early 90's. What suprising the police did not even attempt to disarm them. Where are they getting those weapons.

You could see fire in their eyes calling for a battle. This is beyong salary negotiations, is about the country's stability


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Aug 16, 2012

Noir19

Civilization is still miles away, when picture of a man`s penis brings the country to a halt but the death of 10 healthy humans is part of life .....
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Aug 16, 2012

duwetse

JayV what are you on about? Your Tribalistic/Racist tendencies are proving to everyone that you are not a very bright person. You should be ashamed of yourself.
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Aug 16, 2012

SetlaboswanaBoy07

Tribalism could be another problem...how can salary negotiations end like this
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