The date for a national march by striking mineworkers would be confirmed by Thursday, AngloGold Ashanti workers were told on Wednesday.

“There will be a meeting [on Thursday] to confirm the date,” Democratic Socialist Movement spokeswoman Liv Shange told thousands of striking workers.

They were gathered on a hill at the Mponeng mine outside Fochville in the North West, attending a mass meeting.

They have been on strike since September 25 for better wages.

Shange said a national strike committee was formed in Rustenburg last week. It included Limpopo and Northam mines in the gold, platinum, and chrome industries.

“The next step for that committee is to march on the Union Buildings, hopefully on November 3, to take this struggle to government.

“We have thousands and thousands of workers that have been on strike now for weeks and government needs to feel this and needs to respond.”   Fellow spokesman Mametlwe Sebei told the workers they were not alone.

“We are going to be intensifying and escalating the strike. We are going to make sure that there is no wheel turning in each and every mine in the entire country.”  

He said their demands for better wages were not unreasonable.

“You are breaking the chains that they have tied your hands with for far too long.”  

The movement was calling for nationalisation of mines, much to the joy of mineworkers.

“Not only the few must get rich, but the communities must benefit,” Sebei told the crowd.

Workers representative Rodgers Motlhabane, said they would stay on the hilltop until their demands were met.

“We are not going anywhere.”  

Earlier, worker’s representative Tshepo Motloi, said one of the miners’ representatives was arrested on Monday for incitement.

Six workers were arrested on Friday for public violence. “What public violence?” he asked. “They say they burnt people’s car[s]. No cars were burnt.” The men appeared in Fochville Magistrate’s Court on Friday afternoon and were released to appear again on November 16. Motloi said seven more people were arrested on Saturday on the same charge. They appeared in court on Monday and were released on R1000 bail each. One man still remained in jail as the workers tried to collect his bail, Motloi said.

As the workers waited for the meeting to start they sang and danced. Some were carrying sticks and pipes.

There was a strong police and security presence at the bottom of the hill. A helicopter was circling the hilltop.

Comments

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Wed Jun 19 13:53:20 SAST 2013 ::

Oct 17, 2012

malemaforpresident

I am definitely going to join the march untill those called management in mines pay a better living wage for all the Miners this is part of economic freedom our life time Well done JUJU your motivation is appreciated in all these
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Oct 17, 2012

SOLUTIONS

While these numbnuts are marching, employ people who wants to work.
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Oct 17, 2012

Voetzek

JUJU is a fore-teller, the young lion even if is talking bull but is going to rule" one day is one day
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Oct 17, 2012

SOLUTIONS

Voetzek,
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Voetzek, one cant rule from prison.
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Oct 17, 2012

malemaforpresident

SOLUTIONS
Voetzek,
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Voetzek, one cant rule from prison
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Day dreamer you sleep walker only if you did not have a chat with juju by the way he is going to rule this country we know of people like you who wish for his demise and that wont happen we are going to Nationalise all the mines watch the space King Buudaa
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Oct 17, 2012

SOLUTIONS

malemaforpresident
Day dreamer you sleep walker only if you did not have a chat with juju by the way he is going to rule this country we know of people like you who wish for his demise and that wont happen we are going to Nationalise all the mines watch the space King Buudaa
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Are you also an ugly fat f[_]ck like him, it sounds like you are so far up his a.ss you smell like sh1t the whole time, fat boy will never be president not in your lifetime or mine, dumbass.

That is also that shows me how freakin d.umb you are, you think a president is there to rule a country, in the meantime he is there to serve the people, you are to illiterate to comprehend this. No go back to the congo small boy.
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Oct 17, 2012

Mosquer

SOLUTIONS
While these numbnuts are marching, employ people who wants to work.
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Where are they going to work? Have you ever seen people striking or you just see them on the TV?
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Oct 17, 2012

SOLUTIONS

Mosquer
Where are they going to work? Have you ever seen people striking or you just see them on the TV?
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Yes I have seen these barbaric pieces of sh1t in action, sub humans is the word, well if they are going to march they will do it in the city, they always want to be at a place where they can destroy private property. other people can then be employed while these thugs are in the city. Fire the lot.

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Oct 17, 2012

bytheway1

Don't worry. You strikers will die out eventually... of hunger. Brainless sh!ts
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Oct 17, 2012

bytheway1

SOLUTIONS

Smaller mine groups are on the verge of permanently closing down operations. Anglo Gold said that, should this dispute not be resolved, they will pack up and close all operations. These strikers, now unemployed, will turn to crime (as it suits their damned make-up).

For us, yes we will feel the heat, but our advanced ways will allow us to continue and grow, even if it is elsewhere... and we will look to SA and see how the f*ckers has f*cked themselves over and die by the thousands.


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