Johannesburg - Opposition parties have expressed “relief” at the end of the strike which lasted a month at Lonmin mine in Marikana, North West.
“We congratulate the mine's management and the workers on this result and we particularly commend the work of the SA Council of Churches in brokering talks between the parties,” said United Democratic Movement president Bantu Holomisa.
Democratic Alliance MP Sej Motau also welcomed the end of the strike.
“We hope that this brings the necessary stability to the situation at Marikana, for appropriate humanitarian assistance to be provided to the families of Marikana victims and for unencumbered reflection on the majoritarian labour regime that has contributed to the tragedy,” he said.
Motau said the DA remained convinced that the events at Marikana could have been prevented through a more equitable labour regime, with a better prepared police service and in a minerals sector in which policies served a broader range of stakeholders.
“We hope that the Marikana workers will be allowed to return to work without fear for their safety,” he said.
On Tuesday night Lonmin management could not confirm that the strike at the Marikana mine in North West had ended.
“Lonmin can't comment yet because it is not yet official. They are about to start the meeting to finalise it all and sign agreements,” said Lonmin's Sue Vey.
Striking miners have accepted a 22-percent pay rise and would return to work on Thursday, worker leader Zolisa Bodlani said earlier.
Reporting back to workers at the platinum mine in Marikana on Tuesday, Bodlani said the increase would be applied across the board.
Rock drill operators would now get R11 078 a month before deductions, production team leaders R13 022, and operators R9 883.
Workers would further receive a once-off bonus of R2000.
President of the SA Council of Churches, Bishop Jo Seoka, who was also part of the workers' negotiations, said the offer was closer to the R12,500 the workers had been demanding since they went on strike on August 10.
“We are happy with the latest offer; it is better than what the workers got before they went on strike.”
The negotiators were expected to meet mine management later on Tuesday to sign the agreement. They would address workers at 10am on Wednesday to report back on the signing of the agreement.
Workers were happy with the latest offer. They whistled and jumped with joy, telling the negotiators to sign the deal.
Some carried Bodlani on their shoulders, saying he had never let them down and he was their hero.
The pay hike brings to an end the violent strike that has claimed the lives of 45 lives since August 10.
On August 16, 34 workers were killed when police opened fire on them, and 78 were wounded. A total of 270 workers were arrested.
The preceding week saw 10 people killed in violent protests.
Another man, reported to be a National Union of Mineworkers shop steward, was found dead last week. - Sapa