THE African National Congress leadership has defended labour unions over the events at Marikana and other mines , saying what happened has nothing to do with union rivalry but rather the miner's socio-economic conditions.
Speaking at a media briefing on the outcomes of the special ANC NEC meeting in Tshwane yesterday, ANC secretary- general Gwede Mantashe denied that this showed the ANC had lost touch with the people at grass-roots level , but pointed fingers at mining companies for not adhering to the mining charter and subjecting workers to abject poverty and squalor in surrounding mining areas.
"It remains a matter of deep concern," he said, also slating employers, particularly in the platinum sector, for having paid "lip service" with regards to ensuring improved living and working conditions in the sector.
Mantashe scoffed at criticism that the government should have reacted earlier to avert the killings, saying that there were processes that needed to be followed because it had to avoid being seen as sticking its nose into industrial disagreements. He added that the socio-economic problems had been there for over a 100 years.
- nhlabathih@sowean.co.za
ANC absolves labour unions
THE African National Congress leadership has defended labour unions over the events at Marikana and other mines , saying what happened has nothing to do with union rivalry but rather the miner's socio-economic conditions.
Speaking at a media briefing on the outcomes of the special ANC NEC meeting in Tshwane yesterday, ANC secretary- general Gwede Mantashe denied that this showed the ANC had lost touch with the people at grass-roots level , but pointed fingers at mining companies for not adhering to the mining charter and subjecting workers to abject poverty and squalor in surrounding mining areas.
"It remains a matter of deep concern," he said, also slating employers, particularly in the platinum sector, for having paid "lip service" with regards to ensuring improved living and working conditions in the sector.
Mantashe scoffed at criticism that the government should have reacted earlier to avert the killings, saying that there were processes that needed to be followed because it had to avoid being seen as sticking its nose into industrial disagreements. He added that the socio-economic problems had been there for over a 100 years.
- nhlabathih@sowean.co.za
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