A lot of questions are being asked after the most recent shootout between police and mineworkers at Marikana. By using various camera angles, including this new footage obtained from Al Jazeera, a miner can be seen firing a hand pistol towards authorities first. The police then responded by unleashing a volley of fire into the crowd – gunning down 34 people in the process.
Today is the first day that no incidents were reported from the violence-stricken Marikana mine in the North West. Chaos erupted on Friday when thousands of Lonmin rock drill operators started an illegal work stoppage and protest march. Since then 10 people – two police officers, two security guards, three protesters, and three others – have been killed.
Last week we told you that the National Union of Mineworkers were planning a “massive strike”. Lesiba Seshoka, their spokesperson, has now confirmed that 200 000 gold workers will down their tools at 6pm this afternoon and that “there is no chance of negotiations to halt the strike.”
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said yesterday that workers in the coal sector would go on strike following failed wage negotiations. These are the people that have to make sure Eskom has enough coal to keep on providing electricity to the country. Their bosses offered a seven percent increase, while they thought 14% was fairer.