Lonmin miners strike during disputes with management in North West.(SABC)
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Striking Anglo Platinum mineworkers are determined to continue with their unprotected strike at the company's Rustenburg operations in the
Striking Anglo Platinum mineworkers have been instructed to appear before the company's disciplinary hearing as of next week Tuesday. The striking workers are expected to explain why they should not be dismissed for participating in an unprotected strike. Anglo Platinum says failure to appear before the disciplinary committee could lead to dismissals in absentia.
However, workers are not deterred. Workers representative, Godfrey Lindani says: “If the management cannot afford to pay the workers, the entire management must leave the country. We will be hired here in
Albino Mathe is a rock-driller at Anglo Platinum. He has held the position, for the past 10 years. His four member family still lives in a shack. He is one of Anglo Platinum's 21 000 mineworkers who are demanding a better pay.
"If the management cannot afford to pay the workers, the entire management must leave the country."
Mathe says: “I am just working in this mine because there is nothing I can do. I cannot afford to maintain myself and my family with this kind of salary.”
The unprotected strike will continue, unless there are negotiations over their salary demands.
Anglo Platinum management has already indicated it will only start negotiations on salaries when the current agreement on wages ends in about six months time. While the impasse on salaries continues, the company which is working at 20% capacity is suffering crippling production losses.
