A GROUP of protesting Marikana mineworkers marched from Wonderkop to Lonmin's nearby Eastern Platinum mine to try and stop operations.
The police stopped the group on the way but after negotiations they allowed the workers - some waving knobkerries and sjamboks - to proceed.
"Mining activities at the Eastern Platinum mine have to be stopped because workers there are underpaid," said protest leader Anele Nogwanya.
"We have now buried all of our fallen colleagues. Now is the time to honour our promise to them of getting the R12500," he said.
"If we go back to work without getting R12500, our deceased colleagues will turn against us."
On August 16, police fired on protesting workers, killing 34 of them and wounding 78. Another 10 people were killed the preceding week. Those killed included two policemen and two security guards.
Lonmin spokeswoman Susan Vey said staff attendance was 6.34% yesterday after a slow start of 2% earlier. This was ahead of wage talks, which were expected to begin at noon.
One of the conditions of the peace deal, which was signed on Thursday, was that the workforce return to work yesterday.
Said Solidarity general secretary Gideon du Plessis: "If they carry on with intimidation and unlawful gatherings there is a lot more to it.''
Lonmin workers resolute
A GROUP of protesting Marikana mineworkers marched from Wonderkop to Lonmin's nearby Eastern Platinum mine to try and stop operations.
The police stopped the group on the way but after negotiations they allowed the workers - some waving knobkerries and sjamboks - to proceed.
"Mining activities at the Eastern Platinum mine have to be stopped because workers there are underpaid," said protest leader Anele Nogwanya.
"We have now buried all of our fallen colleagues. Now is the time to honour our promise to them of getting the R12500," he said.
"If we go back to work without getting R12500, our deceased colleagues will turn against us."
On August 16, police fired on protesting workers, killing 34 of them and wounding 78. Another 10 people were killed the preceding week. Those killed included two policemen and two security guards.
Lonmin spokeswoman Susan Vey said staff attendance was 6.34% yesterday after a slow start of 2% earlier. This was ahead of wage talks, which were expected to begin at noon.
One of the conditions of the peace deal, which was signed on Thursday, was that the workforce return to work yesterday.
Said Solidarity general secretary Gideon du Plessis: "If they carry on with intimidation and unlawful gatherings there is a lot more to it.''
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