Cape Town- South African President Jacob Zuma vowed on Wednesday to take a hard line against labour unrest in the mining sector, which has been rocked by 18 months of killings and wildcat strikes that have threatened to destabilise Africa's biggest economy.
“Our law enforcement agencies have been instructed not to tolerate those who commit crime in the name of labour relations. They will face the full might of the law,” he told parliament.
He also said his government would remain impartial in a turf war between the upstart Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) and the National Union of Mineworkers, a long-standing ally of the ruling ANC.
“Government does not take sides and does not favour any labour union over others in the mining industry. Our interest is in finding solutions,” he said.
Zuma's deputy, Kgalema Motlanthe, a former Secretary General of NUM who has been nominated as the government's point man on the mining crisis, is due to meet unions, mining bosses and government departments on Friday to try and ease tensions.
The government was heavily criticised for its handling of last year's mining unrest in which more than 50 people died.
The turbulence also cost billions of dollars in lost output and led to sovereign credit downgrades.
Platinum producer Lonmin was in last-ditch talks on Wednesday over a recognition agreement with AMCU to avert a strike at its mines, which are only found in South Africa.
In his speech, Zuma also reiterated the government's desire shake up “black economic empowerment”, the affirmative action policies designed to redress the imbalances of decades of white-minority apartheid rule. - Reuters