Former ANC Youth League president, Julius Malema.(REUTERS)
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Trade union Solidarity laid charges against former ANC Youth League president Julius Malema today for allegedly provoking unrest amongst striking mine workers.
Spokesperson Johan Kruger said the union laid the charges of incitement to public violence and intimidation at the Lyttelton Police Station in Centurion.
Kruger said Malema was capitalising on the death of the 34 mineworkers in
"Violent protests at mines are not spontaneous. He encourages violence for his own gain. Malema is an opportunist who uses unrest to try to revive his political career."
He said Malema was responsible for the violence at Gold One's Modder East mine in Springs on Monday. This was because he encouraged strikers at
Among those who attended the
"We are going to lead a mining revolution in this country."
Malema told the crowd: "We are going to lead a mining revolution in this country... We will run these mines ungovernable until the boers come to the table."
Meanwhile, Congress of South African Trade Unions, general secretary, Zwelinzima Vvai says the shooting at Lonmin's platinum mine in must be a wake-up call for everyone. "The shocking levels of unemployment, poverty and inequality lie at the heart of the increasingly violent protests we are seeing in both workplaces and communities," Vavi said in a speech prepared for delivery in the
"It is creating what until recently Cosatu has called ticking bombs. After the events at Marikana on 16 August 2012 we now must talk of exploding bombs."
He said people must wait for the judicial commission of inquiry to investigate and reveal what happened on the day when 34 miners were shot dead.
