Rustenburg - A man found hanging in a tree on Tuesday in Broederstroom in North West's troubled platinum mining belt is believed to have been a mineworker, police said.
Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said he was found on the road between Hartbeespoort Dam and Krugersdorp.
“The body of a man, alleged to be a mineworker, was found hanging on the tree in Leeukloof, not far from Hartebeeshoek Road.”
Ngubane said the man was dressed in clothes similar to those used by mineworkers.
A schoolgirl on her way to school saw the body and alerted her mother.
A Volkswagen Golf apparently belonging to the deceased was found on the roadside. It had crashed into a tree.
“How the victim ended up being hanged in the tree is what police are investigating as a registered inquest,” Ngubane said.
In another case, two mineworkers were beaten up in Freedom Park near Rustenburg on their way to work on Tuesday.
“The incident took place near Impala's UG2 shaft early in the morning today 1/8Tuesday 3/8.”
One of the men apparently worked at an engineering construction at Bafokeng Rasimone Mine and the other at UG2 shaft at Impala, said Ngubane.
“The victims sustained multiple stab wounds on the body and feet. No one has been arrested at this stage, as the police investigation continues.”
Implats confirmed one of the men worked at Bafokeng, but denied the second one was in the employ of Impala.
The company said the men were assaulted and not stabbed.
Ngubane urged striking mineworkers to allow those who were not on strike to exercise their constitutional rights without hindrance or intimidation.
An assault docket had been opened. The victims were aged 33 and 37.
Members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) at Impala Platinum, Lonmin, and Anglo American Platinum downed tools on January 23, demanding a basic monthly salary of R12 500.
They rejected the companies' offer that would bring their cash remuneration to R12 500 by July 2017.
The strike has been marred by intimidation and violence that has led to the death of at least five mineworkers.
The strike has cost companies R19.8 billion in revenue and employees have lost R8.8bn in earnings, according to website platinumwagenegotiation.co.za created by the companies.
Talks brokered by a Labour Court judge continued at an undisclosed location in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Sapa