Striking mineworkers at Impala Platinum near Rustenburg must negotiate to end their strike, suspended ANC Youth League president Julius Malema said on Tuesday.
“The employer must be prepared to negotiate. Negotiations means give and take,” he said.
Malema told the crowd that the mine could afford the workers' R9000 wage demand or more.
“Workers cannot be wrong,” he said to the applause of the crowd.
“Once workers decide on action something must be wrong.”
He said the ANCYL had called for the nationalisation of mines based on the condition mineworkers were exposed to.
“You must benefit from the mine. If you are not benefiting, you must fight until you benefit.”
Malema called for the workers to return to work but said they should do so on condition that they would enjoy the benefits they had before the strike.
“You must not allow the employer to divide you,” he warned. - Sapa