Your are here  » Home   » Africa

South African miners plot for general strike

Updated Thursday, September 13th 2012 at 00:00 GMT +3

A leader of South Africa's striking platinum miners has called for a general strike to "bring mining companies to their knees".

The call came at a mass rally for the miners, who have been on strike for weeks to press for higher pay.

Mametlwe Sebei said the general strike would start in Rustenburg, the centre of platinum production, on Sunday.

The strikes have been marked by violent clashes, including the shooting of 34 miners by police.

A wildcat strike at a mine owned by the London-listed Lonmin on 16 August saw 10 people killed before the police started shooting.

Since then, mines have been closed by leading companies, including Anglo American, resulting in production suspensions and tens of thousands of miners unable to work.

At Thursday's meeting, protest leader Mametlwe Sebei told several thousand miners: "On Sunday, we are starting with a general strike here in Rustenburg."

His call echoed that of the firebrand politician Julius Malema, who called for a national strike when he addressed disgruntled soldiers in the Johannesburg area on Wednesday.

That led to the South African government placing its military on high alert, the first such move since democracy came to the country in 1994.

Political wrangling

The government is concerned that the miners' protests are being used as a focal point for opponents of South African President Jacob Zuma.

Mr Malema, who was expelled from the ruling ANC party, is viewed as trying to resuscitate his political career and force President Zuma from office at its national conference in December.

GO TO PAGE 1 2 Next »
Comments in chronological order (Total 0 comments)



1100 characters remaining
 
Top headlines

Uganda police shut down Monitor Publications

Police raided Uganda's leading independent newspaper on Monday and disabled its printing press after it published a letter about a purported plot to stifle allegations President Yoweri Museveni is grooming his son for power

Google+

Popular on Facebook

KCB 41.00 0.00
COOP 17.00 0.05
KPLC 17.15 0.15
ARM 70.00 1.00
EQTY 35.00 0.50
HFCK 25.50 0.00
KAPC 125.00 -1.00
KENO 10.95 0.15
KQ 11.30 0.00
MSC 4.45 0.05
SASN 13.50 -0.05
SCOM 7.25 0.00
Watch KTN Live Listen to Radio Maisha Live