Lonmin extends ultimatum

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

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

Published Aug 20, 2012

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Marikana, North West - Strikers at the Lonmin mine in the North West have been given another day to report for work, the company said on Monday.

“After consultations with various labour representatives today, the company can announce that those illegal strikers who did not return to work this morning will not be dismissed and have been allowed an extra day in light of current circumstances,” the platinum miner said in a statement.

“Lonmin agrees with all stakeholders involved that this is the right thing to do as all parties work together to help restore stability to both the mines and the region in the light of the tragic events of last week.”

The mine, in Marikana in the North West, initially said striking miners would be fired if they failed to report for work on Monday.

On Thursday, 34 people were killed when the police opened fire on striking workers, some of them armed, when trying to disperse them after a week of violent protests. Another 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed in violence at the mine in the week before that.

The police ministry said 78 others were injured and 259 arrested during Thursday's shooting. The 259 were expected to appear in the Garankuwa Magistrate's Court on Monday.

Twenty-seven percent of the morning-shift workforce showed up for work on Monday morning.

“This is a reasonably low turn-out, but probably around what was expected under the circumstances,” the company said in a statement.

“The people that showed up can be kept busy, but the mine will not be producing too much.”

Lonmin issued an ultimatum, affecting the 3000 rock drill operators and assistant rock drill operators, who had been on strike illegally.

“The vast majority of the workforce have not been on strike, but have been unable to work since the violence which surrounded the recent illegal strike at the mines began,” the company said.

Lonmin's executive vice president for mining Mark Munroe appealed for calm.

“What has happened here has been a tragedy, and the pain and anger it has led to will take time to heal... We need to try to return to some kind of normality as we go through that healing process,” Munroe said.

“Tens of thousands of people's livelihoods rely on Lonmin, as well as much of the local infrastructure we provide in terms of health, water, education and housing.”

He said he was overseeing the roll-out of support networks for workers and their families affected by the shooting. Munroe said company representatives visited the injured workers in hospital and met the families of the deceased. - Sapa

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