Yesterday, about 400 miners at the Nkaneng informal settlement in Photsaneng near Rustenburg resulted to violence in order to voice their frustrations. In the process, a man was burned to death, and another was shot dead. Several security guards were also assualted by strikers.
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.