Company spokeswoman Mpumi Sithole said in a statement that the miners refused to go down the mine shaft at the shift change and demanded to meet management to discuss a memorandum the workers handed over a week ago.

“The talks are currently happening between the six representatives, management, and members of UASA [the United Association of SA] and NUM [the National Union of Mineworkers] are part of the discussions.” 

She said the rest of the mine’s employees continued to work as usual and described the situation as calm.

“We appeal to our workers to remain calm and to refrain from violent acts during this period,” Sithole said.  

The nearby Lonmin Marikana mine was recently the scene of violent protests which began when rock drill operators downed tools two weeks ago.   Last Thursday, a total of 34 people were killed in a shootout near the Marikana mine when police tried to disperse striking miners. More than 70 people were injured. Another 10 people had by then been killed in the violent protests earlier at the mine.

• Smaller producer Royal Bafokeng Platinum said it had received an undertaking that the 500 employees who participated in an illegal strike earlier this week would return.

It said allegations of intimidation would be independently investigated and appropriate action would be taken if required.

“In spite of the loss of approximately 14,000 tonnes planned to have been hoisted over the three days ... total tonnes milled for the month should remain unaffected due to the stockpile processed during this period,” it said.

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Mon May 20 14:02:08 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 24, 2012

candilious

Yip strike saeason has begun ...............
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Aug 24, 2012

DJ-Winner

I like it. All these mining companies must be exposed. We cannot allow them to enslave our people...
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Aug 24, 2012

batical

a man goes down underground all day n come months end u pay him 4000.. rediculous.
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Aug 27, 2012

seutullamakunutu

Zuma must go and promise to take their grievances to the mine administration as soon as possible, thereafter like Lonmin will appoint a new CEO who will claim that he was not there when the crisis began still needs to refer or get a feed back from the previous CEO, no solutions to the miners ' problems except knew contract of employment and redundancy .Watch the space.
We need the miners to work platinum is exported for our own economical benefit.
Pay these people a living wage. Lonmin is a disgarce, being a british company , a minimum hourly rate in UK is £5 and Lonmin exploit our people with R4000 p.m dived by 31 ( number of days in a month) = R129 per day , divide further by 12 hours which is R1.115c per hour. Then convert 115c rands to british ponuds (1= 10 for argument sake , higher these days on mine unrest) Less that fifty cents per our. Exploitation at its best ........
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