"Our comrade was shot dead, he was shot last night [Thursday]. His body is still there [at the hill], where he was shot," Gaddhafi Mdoda, one of the workers' leaders, said on Friday.

He said the police fired teargas and rubber bullets at workers who had gathered on the hill near the informal settlement.

"They first gathered at the Bleskop hostel and were ordered to leave. They went to the informal settlement. They were also ordered to disperse and they went to the hill to continue with their meeting."

Here the police ordered them to disperse, counted to 10, and fired teargas and rubber bullets, he said.

The North West police could not immediately confirm the death. Captain Amanda Funani said they would release a statement once they had all the details.

Meanwhile, striking workers barricaded roads linking Rustenburg to Marikana with rocks and burning tyres.

The workers went on a "wildcat" strike without following labour law procedures on September 12, demanding a R16,000 monthly salary and allowances.

Since then, shops and cars have been burnt. On Monday, six cars driving past the mine's shafts were burnt and two shops looted and burnt.

One of the shops belonged to a Pakistani man, and was situated next to the mine's Jabula hostel, in Sondela.

Despites threats of dismissals if they did not return to work, the workers remained defiant.

Mdoda said they were going to meet at the Bleskop Stadium.

"All workers are going to Bleskop," he said.

Comments

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Mon May 20 18:20:46 SAST 2013 ::

Oct 5, 2012

ILLUMINATED

Killer SAPS on the loose...life is cheap nowadays. It makes me think, that is why the government had the legal and illegal weapon amnesty in 2004 headed by Bheki Cele, it was a move to disarm the citizens from protecting themselves against militarized SAPS.
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Oct 5, 2012

DJ-Winner

Gaddhafi Mdoda? Is this his nickname or real name?
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Oct 5, 2012

sabza007

@Illuminated

No Chief, you have concluded already that its the police. These striking arrogant ''thugs'' kill,burn and loot everything in their path. Its easy now to blame since Marikana tragedy.

I wish Amplats fire them all and ask them to reapply for whoever who wants his job back. Legally, they are within their rights because they have issued warning after warning and they are loosing millions daily. We understand workers need to be paid better BUT to engage in unprotected strike, demanding more than 300%-400% increase across the board is just crazy.

Next week, They will be fired and I feel for their family.
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Oct 5, 2012

Bizzabo

sabza007

and who is going to work there if they fire all...do you think the dismssed strikers will leave it lying?
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Oct 5, 2012

knocuza

I see more killings coming from these miners.
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Oct 5, 2012

RobinH

Violence breeds violence. At this stage it is premature to conclude that the man was shot by police. As we all know, strikers have caused a number of deaths. There are no innocents in this debacle, other than the poor men on the ground who are being used as cannon-fodder by unscrupulous manipulators whose agenda is far from benefitting mine-workers.

I would be interested to know whether women are employed underground, as one sees large numbers of ululating women among the strikers? I am not familiar with employment policies in that industry.
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Oct 5, 2012

maneater

what is this about miners and hills???
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Oct 5, 2012

RobinH

maneater: Read the article and all will be revealed.
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Oct 5, 2012

lenyora13

It seems like its k for strikers to kill, destroy properties.. mare when someone put them to order its rong...
we becomin a lawless society
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Oct 5, 2012

2shy2call

this miners don't want to learn.
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