Leave the weapons, Lonmin tells workers

REUTERS

Protesters sing as they hold weapons outside the Lonmin mine in Marikana, Rustenburg, last week. Photo: Reuters

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North West - Violence-hit Lonmin Platinum mine called on striking workers on Monday to “leave the weapons” and return to their workplace to discuss their demands.

“We still are very optimistic that workers will show up,” said Barnard Mokwena, executive vice-president of human capital and external affairs.

“Only then can we sit down and review the situation and determine the next action,” he told SAfm.

The illegal strike, that started last Friday and has caused 44 deaths, halted production at the world's third biggest platinum mine in Rustenburg, North West.

Mokwena said the mine had never refused to talk to workers.

“We have asked workers through their structures to come through to engage management.”

However, the mine's management would not go to the hilltop at Marikana to speak to miners.

“The mountain is not even on mine property… come down the mountain, leave the weapons and just come to the workplace,” said Mokwena.

He said the mine had still not received any formal memorandum of demands from striking workers.

“We actually don't have anything by way of a set of demands.”

Mineworkers started striking at the North West mine last Friday in protest action that saw 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, killed.

On Thursday, the police opened fire on thousands of weapon-wielding workers who were seen running from a nearby mountain where they had been gathered for several days.

Thirty-four workers were shot dead and more than 70 injured.

The protests were believed to be linked to rivalry between the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) over recognition agreements at the mine.

Workers also demanded higher wages.

Lonmin has issued an ultimatum to the illegally striking workers to return to work on Monday or face possible dismissal.

The ultimatum applied only to illegally striking rock drill operators and assistant rock drill operators who began an unprotected action on August 10, the company said in a statement on Sunday.

Lonmin CFO Simon Scott said, “The safety and security of our employees is paramount and nobody will be asked to report for duty if the police consider them in danger of reprisals.” - Sapa