Three Workers Killed as S.Africa Platinum Belt Boils over
Three mine workers were killed in South Africa's restive platinum belt, a union said Monday, as efforts intensified to break a strike that is now in its fourth month.
The National Union of Mineworkers members were killed while on their way to work, or attacked at their homes, NUM spokesman Livhuwani Mammburu said.
Police said one was hacked to death on Monday, a second one was burnt to ashes in his house, while a third was found strangled to death along with his wife in their shack over the weekend.
Six others were stabbed while walking to work early Monday morning, but survived, said police spokesman Thulani Ngubane.
The attacks appeared to bear the hallmarks of inter-union violence, but police could not confirm the motive.
Around 80,000 members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union downed tools on January 23 demanding higher pay, dramatically cutting production in the world's largest platinum producing region.
Non-striking workers, including members of the National Union of Mineworkers have reported intimidation and violence by the striking majority.
"We know those who are on strike are behind the attacks," NUM general secretary Frans Baleni told AFP. "Our members are between a rock and a hard place."
The most recent attacks come as platinum companies step up their efforts to break the strike.
Lonmin, the world's number three platinum producer said it was expecting a huge turnout of workers at the shafts this week after by-passing AMCU leadership and directly appealing to hard-up workers to return.
"We have taken the settlement offer directly to our employees so they can exercise their individual right to accept that offer," said Lonmin spokeswoman Sue Vey, and "it has been an overwhelming response by all accounts."
With many miners having to borrow from friends, family, or predatory lenders to make ends meet, Lonmin's call is likely to raise tensions.
"These people were planning the violent reaction to the pressure by the companies to get workers back at work," said Baleni.
"We know that yesterday they marched to the bus companies threatening to burn any buses that would transport workers," he added.
Other mines affected by the strike - Anglo American Platinum and Impala Platinum - have made a similar pay offer directly to their workers.
But AMCU bosses have rejected the basic salary package of 12,500 rand ($1,200/ 860 euros) by July 2017, saying they want that figure to take effect immediately.
Lonmin on Monday reported a 43 percent drop in production due to the strike which started 15 weeks ago.
Chief executive Ben Magara, called the period as "challenging" but hopes for a "safe and successful ramp-up" when the strike eventually ends.
Provisional production was scheduled to start in June if Lonmin workers choose to return to work this week.