Hundreds who 'assisted' in strike lose out - Contract workers won't benefit from recent increase
WHILE Lonmin platinum miners celebrated a 22% pay hike following a deadly strike that claimed the lives of at least 46 people, not everyone who participated in the six-week protest action were in a jovial mood.
Hundreds of unemployed young men and women from Eastern Cape, who "assisted" in the strike, still have nothing, while others paid the ultimate price.
Thembinkosi Gwelani of Lusikisiki had been looking for work at the time of the protest action and lost his life bringing food to the striking miners.
Many of those lucky enough to have made it out alive said they were packing their bags and heading back to Eastern Cape because they saw no future staying in Marikana.
Unemployed Zitha Soni of Ngqeleni said he was going home.
"This is just a struggle for us here (at Marikana). We were there when these miners were killed. We were there at the meetings they held in Wonderkop Stadium," he said.
"Now we are just forgotten heroes, who played a role in assisting the miners. Gwelani was shot while taking food to them."
On Thursday last week a mineworker leader, Zolani Bodlani, acknowledged that not everyone who participated in the strike would benefit from the wage increase deal.
This included contractors and unemployed protesters.
"This strike was purely for permanently employed workers and we appreciate their kind participation, but the company has voiced it clearly that (the increase) will benefit their employees," Bodlani said.
"Even the once-off bonus of R2,000 is for full-time workers."
Unemployment is rife in Eastern Cape, with little opportunity for school leavers.
In recent speeches at memorial services for slain miners in the Transkei, Eastern Cape Premier, Noxolo Kiviet, MEC for social development Pemmy Majodina and MEC for rural development and agrarian reform, Zoleka Capa have all mentioned that hordes of young Eastern Cape people were heading to the mines in search of work.
But Kiviet said while the province had been "producing mining labourers" for many years, plans were being made in the province to develop skills.
Capa said there were various agrarian projects that needed young people in most rural Eastern Cape villages.
"We are now urging local chiefs to identify land that can be. Many youths can benefit from this instead of going to the mines with no hope of getting jobs there," Capa said at a recent funeral in Ntabankulu.
Job seeker Yandisa Matomela of Tsomo said there was even less chance of their finding work on the mines now after the violent strike.
"There is no chance that we will get any jobs. Maybe two years from now, but the mine has to fix the problems that it is facing."
This article was first published in the printed newspaper on 1 October 2012
.
Paying price for Marikana
Hundreds who 'assisted' in strike lose out - Contract workers won't benefit from recent increase
WHILE Lonmin platinum miners celebrated a 22% pay hike following a deadly strike that claimed the lives of at least 46 people, not everyone who participated in the six-week protest action were in a jovial mood.
Hundreds of unemployed young men and women from Eastern Cape, who "assisted" in the strike, still have nothing, while others paid the ultimate price.
Thembinkosi Gwelani of Lusikisiki had been looking for work at the time of the protest action and lost his life bringing food to the striking miners.
Many of those lucky enough to have made it out alive said they were packing their bags and heading back to Eastern Cape because they saw no future staying in Marikana.
Unemployed Zitha Soni of Ngqeleni said he was going home.
"This is just a struggle for us here (at Marikana). We were there when these miners were killed. We were there at the meetings they held in Wonderkop Stadium," he said.
"Now we are just forgotten heroes, who played a role in assisting the miners. Gwelani was shot while taking food to them."
On Thursday last week a mineworker leader, Zolani Bodlani, acknowledged that not everyone who participated in the strike would benefit from the wage increase deal.
This included contractors and unemployed protesters.
"This strike was purely for permanently employed workers and we appreciate their kind participation, but the company has voiced it clearly that (the increase) will benefit their employees," Bodlani said.
"Even the once-off bonus of R2,000 is for full-time workers."
Unemployment is rife in Eastern Cape, with little opportunity for school leavers.
In recent speeches at memorial services for slain miners in the Transkei, Eastern Cape Premier, Noxolo Kiviet, MEC for social development Pemmy Majodina and MEC for rural development and agrarian reform, Zoleka Capa have all mentioned that hordes of young Eastern Cape people were heading to the mines in search of work.
But Kiviet said while the province had been "producing mining labourers" for many years, plans were being made in the province to develop skills.
Capa said there were various agrarian projects that needed young people in most rural Eastern Cape villages.
"We are now urging local chiefs to identify land that can be. Many youths can benefit from this instead of going to the mines with no hope of getting jobs there," Capa said at a recent funeral in Ntabankulu.
Job seeker Yandisa Matomela of Tsomo said there was even less chance of their finding work on the mines now after the violent strike.
"There is no chance that we will get any jobs. Maybe two years from now, but the mine has to fix the problems that it is facing."
This article was first published in the printed newspaper on 1 October 2012
.
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