Platinum belt strike timeline

Picture: Timothy Bernard.

Picture: Timothy Bernard.

Published Jun 23, 2014

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Johannesburg - Below is a timeline of strike-related events in the platinum belt, where the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) have been on a five-month wage-related strike.

August 2012 - Thirty-four striking miners are shot dead on August 16 and 78 wounded when police open fire on them while trying to disperse a group gathered on a hill near Lonmin's Marikana mine, North West.

In the preceding week, 10 people, including two police officers and two security guards, are killed near the mine.

President Jacob Zuma announces the Farlam commission of inquiry into the 44 deaths.

September 2012 - Workers at Amplats go on an illegal strike on September 12, demanding a monthly salary of R16,000 and allowances.

Two men are killed at the Nkaneng informal settlement in Photsaneng, near Rustenburg, in strike-related violence.

May 2013 - The Chamber of Mines announces it will meet unions to discuss proposed wage demands for 2013.

Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) announces it will cut 6000 jobs instead of the 14,000 it predicted earlier.

May 14 and 15 - Amcu members go on strike, reportedly because the NUM will not vacate a union office.

The unprotected strike ends on May 15 after Lonmin obtains a court interdict.

Two brothers are killed and two women injured in a shooting at the Nkaneng informal settlement near Marikana.

June 2013 - A cleansing ceremony held in Marikana on June 17, by the families of those killed in August 2012.

June 2013 - Amcu puts on hold a strike over an organisational rights dispute between itself and NUM at Lonmin's Marikana mine.

November 2013 - Platinum supply from South Africa hovers around 12-year lows.

About 2000 miners stage an underground sit-in at Amplats' Dishaba mine in Limpopo.

Amcu lowers its demand of R12,500 a month for workers at Impala Platinum.

December 2013 - Amcu gets permission by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to strike at Lonmin over a wage dispute on December 12.

January 23, 2014 - Amcu members at Lonmin, Implats, and Anglo American Platinum embark on strike demanding a basic monthly salary of R12,500.

February 7 - Amplats employee shot dead after protesters clash with police.

March 6 - Amcu marches to the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

March 18 - Amcu marches to Anglo American Platinum headquarters in Johannesburg.

March 27 - Impala Platinum says Amcu's revised pay demand of a minimum monthly wage of R12,500, put into effect over four years, remains unaffordable.

Amcu marches to Impala's offices in Johannesburg.

April 3 - Amcu marches to Lonmin offices in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg.

April 18 - Amplats, Implats and Lonmin present Amcu with a new offer.

April 23 - Amcu rejects platinum bosses' offer.

April 24 - Wage negotiations deadlock between Amcu and platinum producers.

June 3 - Mineral Resources Minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi holds talks with Amcu leaders in Pretoria.

June 9 - The government's task team withdraws from the platinum strike talks.

June 10 - Trade union Solidarity announces it is set to file an urgent application with the Constitutional Court in a bid to restore the right to work for non-strikers in the platinum mining sector.

June 13 - Amcu accepts a deal from platinum producers in principle.

The platinum producers proposed to increase the salary of the lowest-paid workers by R1000 for two years and R950 in the third year.

June 16 - No confirmation from Amcu on wage deal.

June 18 - Amplats announces it will meet Amcu, as employers and the union seek an end to the ongoing platinum strike.

June 23 - Amcu leader Joseph Mathunjwa announces the strike is over and that workers will return to their posts on Wednesday, June 25. - Sapa

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