News / Africa
Zuma's stay cut short
18 Aug 2012 at 06:50hrs | Views
THE death toll in Thursday's shooting of striking miners at Lon­min Mine in Rustenburg, South Africa, has risen to 34, prompting President Jacob Zuma to cut short his stay at the ongoing Sadc Summit in Mozambique.
It was not clear at the time of going to Press last night whether Sadc had discussed the Rustenburg massacre.
At least 78 people were injured as police battled to quell the violent protest.South African police have since arrested over 259 striking workers.
The shooting has sparked outrage with labour unions describing it as "unwarranted and ruthless".
President Zuma, the outgoing chair­man of the Sadc Organ on Poli­tics, Defence and Security Co-opera­tion, was scheduled to brief the full summit on progress in the imple­mentation of Zimbabwe's Global Political Agree­ment.
He had briefed the Sadc Troika on the same issue late Thursday night.
It was not clear yesterday evening whether President Zuma, the Sadc-appointed facilitator to the GPA nego­tiations, had managed to brief the full summit on Zimbabwe before his hasty departure. He had earlier attended the open­ing ceremony, which ended just after midday.
"The President asked the new Sadc chairperson President (Armando) Guebuza of Mozambique and his col­leagues, the Sadc Heads of State and Government, to release him so that he can go and attend to the matters at home," the South African Presidency said in a statement.
South African police opened fire on the striking Lonmin PLC plat­inum mineworkers in Marikana, Rusten­burg, after they reportedly ignored orders to disperse.
South African police commis­sioner Riah Phiyega defended the shooting yesterday saying the officers were "forced to utilise maximum force to defend themselves" after they were attacked by armed protesters.
The protestors were reportedly armed with machetes and sticks.
The police used water cannons, tear gas and stun grenades to try and quell the violence.
Trouble began when police were lay­ing out barbed wire barricades to sepa­rate the 3 000 striking drill oper­ators into "smaller groups more man­ageable for police to disarm", Ms Phiyega said.
South Africa's Sowetan newspaper quoted the president of Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union Joseph Mathunjwa as saying the death of the mine workers was tragic.
"I told them to leave . . . I pleaded, I pleaded," he told reporters in Johan­nesburg.
Tears rolled down his cheeks as he recounted the events that led to the death of the 34 protesters.
He said workers had earlier refused to leave, vowing to stay on the hill even if they were killed.
"We got in our cars and left . . . After a few minutes, the phone rang (about the shooting)," said Mr Mathunjwa.
"I wanted to turn back and go and die with my comrades."
Using a handkerchief to wipe his eyes, he said Amcu leaders went to the hilltop, where the protesters had gath­ered, before the shooting without a police or security escort, or any super­vision.
Mr Mathunjwa said he pleaded with the workers twice to leave the hilltop, near the mine where workers had gathered, but they refused.
"They wanted R12 500 (a month)," he said.
Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions secretary-general Mr Bernard Danda said dialogue was the best solu­tion to labour disputes.
"It is time African governments see the importance of negotiations over salaries and working conditions.
"This is disturbing and reminiscent of the apartheid era. Companies should be committed to dialogue than launching, through police, ruth­less attacks on innocent workers.
"These are the workers that make them realise profits and there is no need of killing them."
Secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions Mr Japhet Moyo said it was clear police officers in southern Africa needed training in dis­pute resolution.
"We are not happy with what has happened because labour issues are bread and butter issues and have noth­ing to do with politics," he said.
"Police and management of com­panies need to refer to systems in their countries which are used to end con­flict."
Mr Moyo said the South African police should have applied "mini­mum force".
"You cannot control violence with violence. This is a matter which could have been resolved without using force.
"If investigations reveal that the police were wrong, then the families should be compensated with tangible things and if the strikers were wrong then it's another case."
Employers' Confederation of Zim­babwe president Mr Anthony Mandi­wanza said workers and employees should avoid confrontation in labour disputes.
"This is extremely unfortunate because it has resulted in loss of lives," he said.
"It is important that life is pre­served through negotiations. Dia­logue always stops people from con­fronting each other. What triggered the situation is not known, but this is not the best way to end a labour dispute."
It was not clear at the time of going to Press last night whether Sadc had discussed the Rustenburg massacre.
At least 78 people were injured as police battled to quell the violent protest.South African police have since arrested over 259 striking workers.
The shooting has sparked outrage with labour unions describing it as "unwarranted and ruthless".
President Zuma, the outgoing chair­man of the Sadc Organ on Poli­tics, Defence and Security Co-opera­tion, was scheduled to brief the full summit on progress in the imple­mentation of Zimbabwe's Global Political Agree­ment.
He had briefed the Sadc Troika on the same issue late Thursday night.
It was not clear yesterday evening whether President Zuma, the Sadc-appointed facilitator to the GPA nego­tiations, had managed to brief the full summit on Zimbabwe before his hasty departure. He had earlier attended the open­ing ceremony, which ended just after midday.
"The President asked the new Sadc chairperson President (Armando) Guebuza of Mozambique and his col­leagues, the Sadc Heads of State and Government, to release him so that he can go and attend to the matters at home," the South African Presidency said in a statement.
South African police opened fire on the striking Lonmin PLC plat­inum mineworkers in Marikana, Rusten­burg, after they reportedly ignored orders to disperse.
South African police commis­sioner Riah Phiyega defended the shooting yesterday saying the officers were "forced to utilise maximum force to defend themselves" after they were attacked by armed protesters.
The protestors were reportedly armed with machetes and sticks.
The police used water cannons, tear gas and stun grenades to try and quell the violence.
Trouble began when police were lay­ing out barbed wire barricades to sepa­rate the 3 000 striking drill oper­ators into "smaller groups more man­ageable for police to disarm", Ms Phiyega said.
South Africa's Sowetan newspaper quoted the president of Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union Joseph Mathunjwa as saying the death of the mine workers was tragic.
"I told them to leave . . . I pleaded, I pleaded," he told reporters in Johan­nesburg.
Tears rolled down his cheeks as he recounted the events that led to the death of the 34 protesters.
He said workers had earlier refused to leave, vowing to stay on the hill even if they were killed.
"We got in our cars and left . . . After a few minutes, the phone rang (about the shooting)," said Mr Mathunjwa.
"I wanted to turn back and go and die with my comrades."
Using a handkerchief to wipe his eyes, he said Amcu leaders went to the hilltop, where the protesters had gath­ered, before the shooting without a police or security escort, or any super­vision.
Mr Mathunjwa said he pleaded with the workers twice to leave the hilltop, near the mine where workers had gathered, but they refused.
"They wanted R12 500 (a month)," he said.
Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions secretary-general Mr Bernard Danda said dialogue was the best solu­tion to labour disputes.
"It is time African governments see the importance of negotiations over salaries and working conditions.
"This is disturbing and reminiscent of the apartheid era. Companies should be committed to dialogue than launching, through police, ruth­less attacks on innocent workers.
"These are the workers that make them realise profits and there is no need of killing them."
Secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions Mr Japhet Moyo said it was clear police officers in southern Africa needed training in dis­pute resolution.
"We are not happy with what has happened because labour issues are bread and butter issues and have noth­ing to do with politics," he said.
"Police and management of com­panies need to refer to systems in their countries which are used to end con­flict."
Mr Moyo said the South African police should have applied "mini­mum force".
"You cannot control violence with violence. This is a matter which could have been resolved without using force.
"If investigations reveal that the police were wrong, then the families should be compensated with tangible things and if the strikers were wrong then it's another case."
Employers' Confederation of Zim­babwe president Mr Anthony Mandi­wanza said workers and employees should avoid confrontation in labour disputes.
"This is extremely unfortunate because it has resulted in loss of lives," he said.
"It is important that life is pre­served through negotiations. Dia­logue always stops people from con­fronting each other. What triggered the situation is not known, but this is not the best way to end a labour dispute."
Source - AFP
