Union fight drags SA gold-miner down
Mineworkers killed and injured, property damaged.
Siphelele Dludla
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) on Tuesday blamed Sibanye-Stillwater for the clashes between it and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) that have resulted in a number of mineworkers being killed, injured, and property being damaged in the Carletonville area west of Johannesburg.
The NUM earlier condemned what it called the escalation of violence and attacks on its members at Blybank in Carletonville, allegedly by members of Amcu who are on strike at Sibanye-Stillwater's nearby Beatrix mine. The NUM said at least 15 houses and six cars belonging to its members had been burnt since the strike by Amcu, which started in November last year.
In response to the NUM's allegations, Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa said this was further proof the great lengths Sibanye will go to ensure that the South African worker remains oppressed.
About 15 000 Amcu members have been on strike at Sibanye's gold mines since 22 November 2018. The union is refusing a three-year wage agreement signed by the mine and three other unions and is demanding a R1 000 annual wage increase for the next three years.
"Since the commencement of our strike Sibanye-Stillwater has resorted to violence so these allegations are nothing new. What must be reported are the acts of violence and terrorism Sibanye has inflicted on our members. Our members have been shot at, stabbed and killed, including comrade Sechaba Matsoetlane from Lesotho and yet no arrests have been made," Mathjunwa said.
"Our enemy is not the NUM. We just want to plead with them to change their mentality and stop being used by Sibanye Stillwater. We are fighting for the same thing, the economic liberation of the mineworker, because what we will achieve in this strike will also benefit their members and their children."
Mathunjwa was addressing Amcu members at Sibanye's Kloof and Driefontien operations in Carltonville in the first central mass meeting of 2019, outlining the union's plans for the year including a march to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and a secondary strike in the platinum sector.
"Why is it that when workers demand a living wage of R12 500 all sorts of questions are asked and yet when 12 executives at Sibanye-Stillwater can share an estimated R151 million in bonuses no one says a thing?" Mathunjwa asked. "When workers demand a R1 000 increment suddenly the economy is shrinking and not doing well, yet when executives continue earning exorbitant salaries people turn a blind eye. Amcu says no more," he said.
"We want to show the Sibanye Stillwater CEO and executives that we mean business when it comes to fighting for and protecting the rights of workers. We will stand up and make them listen by affecting them where it hurts the most," Mathunjwa said.
He also accused Sibanye of using underhanded tactics by allegedly recruiting workers to join the NUM as the verification process to determine the majority union at Sibanye's operation is in progress.
On Monday Sibanye said the mediator of the ongoing strike at its gold operations would approach the Labour Court to seek guidance about the verification of union membership after it (Sibanye) did not agree with the striking union about the terms of reference for the process.
Sibanye currently employs approximately 32 200 people at its South African gold operations, with Amcu representing approximately 43% of these workers. -NAMPA/ANA
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) on Tuesday blamed Sibanye-Stillwater for the clashes between it and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) that have resulted in a number of mineworkers being killed, injured, and property being damaged in the Carletonville area west of Johannesburg.
The NUM earlier condemned what it called the escalation of violence and attacks on its members at Blybank in Carletonville, allegedly by members of Amcu who are on strike at Sibanye-Stillwater's nearby Beatrix mine. The NUM said at least 15 houses and six cars belonging to its members had been burnt since the strike by Amcu, which started in November last year.
In response to the NUM's allegations, Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa said this was further proof the great lengths Sibanye will go to ensure that the South African worker remains oppressed.
About 15 000 Amcu members have been on strike at Sibanye's gold mines since 22 November 2018. The union is refusing a three-year wage agreement signed by the mine and three other unions and is demanding a R1 000 annual wage increase for the next three years.
"Since the commencement of our strike Sibanye-Stillwater has resorted to violence so these allegations are nothing new. What must be reported are the acts of violence and terrorism Sibanye has inflicted on our members. Our members have been shot at, stabbed and killed, including comrade Sechaba Matsoetlane from Lesotho and yet no arrests have been made," Mathjunwa said.
"Our enemy is not the NUM. We just want to plead with them to change their mentality and stop being used by Sibanye Stillwater. We are fighting for the same thing, the economic liberation of the mineworker, because what we will achieve in this strike will also benefit their members and their children."
Mathunjwa was addressing Amcu members at Sibanye's Kloof and Driefontien operations in Carltonville in the first central mass meeting of 2019, outlining the union's plans for the year including a march to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and a secondary strike in the platinum sector.
"Why is it that when workers demand a living wage of R12 500 all sorts of questions are asked and yet when 12 executives at Sibanye-Stillwater can share an estimated R151 million in bonuses no one says a thing?" Mathunjwa asked. "When workers demand a R1 000 increment suddenly the economy is shrinking and not doing well, yet when executives continue earning exorbitant salaries people turn a blind eye. Amcu says no more," he said.
"We want to show the Sibanye Stillwater CEO and executives that we mean business when it comes to fighting for and protecting the rights of workers. We will stand up and make them listen by affecting them where it hurts the most," Mathunjwa said.
He also accused Sibanye of using underhanded tactics by allegedly recruiting workers to join the NUM as the verification process to determine the majority union at Sibanye's operation is in progress.
On Monday Sibanye said the mediator of the ongoing strike at its gold operations would approach the Labour Court to seek guidance about the verification of union membership after it (Sibanye) did not agree with the striking union about the terms of reference for the process.
Sibanye currently employs approximately 32 200 people at its South African gold operations, with Amcu representing approximately 43% of these workers. -NAMPA/ANA
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