Miners' discontent spreads to new mines in S Africa

Labour discontent spread through South Africa's platinum mines Wednesday, as the nation prepared memorials for the 44 killed in a wildcat strike at Lonmin's Marikana mine, most shot by police. About 600 workers downed tools at the nearby Royal Bafokeng Platinum Mine. Most said they were rock drill operators seeking higher wages. Anglo American Platinum, the world's top producer, said it had also received a list of demands from workers but declined to comment on the issues raised. The new disputes emerged following Lonmin's first talks with representatives of the 3,000 workers who launched a strike on August 10 to demand higher wages. Anglican Bishop Johannes Seoka, who facilitated the talks late Tuesday, said the meeting was cordial and that both sides showed a willingness to cooperate. "All we ask management is to please allow workers to give them their demands, to listen to them and to engage with them because the workers have been asking just to talk," he told AFP. "If they had talked earlier on, the massacre would have been avoided," he added. Lonmin spokeswoman Sue Vey said the meeting had not focused on workers' demands. "It was a meeting of employers and employees, basically discussing the current situation," she said. "It's the first time they've managed to sit down (and talk) and that's good." The workers, mainly rock drill operators, are demanding a monthly salary of 12,500 rand ($1,500, 1,200 euros), saying they currently earn 4,000 rand. Lonmin says that when their bonuses and other allowances are included, the workers earn around 11,000 rand, with a nine-percent increase set to kick in on October 1. Workers who attended the talks said they also wanted the release of the 259 people arrested after the police crackdown last Thursday, when officers gunned down 34 people. "We want our brothers who (were) arrested to be freed, without bail. They must attend the memorial service" Thursday, said Kwenene Msindiseni, a rock driller. South Africa is preparing services across the country on Thursday to mourn those killed by police in the bloodiest day of protest since apartheid. The service will also honour the 10 people, including two police, killed in clashes among workers in the first days of the strike. Most of the victims' bodies have already been returned to their home villages. Amid the preparations for the memorials, mining companies tried to contain the labour unrest. Striking rock drill operators at Royal Bafokeng said they had also presented a demand for a salary of 12,500 rand, as about 600 miners gathered peacefully with a handful of police watching on. Royal Bafokeng spokeswoman Kea Kalebe said the protest was confined to one shaft, and that the company was still ascertaining the miners' demands. "We are still trying to establish the facts, the situation is calm, they were singing and we are obviously monitoring the situation," she said. Johannesburg-listed Royal Bafokeng Platinum is controlled by the investment company of South Africa's Bafokeng tribe. Anglo American Platinum spokeswoman Mpumi Sithole said the company had been presented with a broad list of demands by a group of employees, who had not engaged their union, and who wanted a response by Friday. "It's not a wage demand," she said, declining to elaborate. But she added that management's door was open to workers. "We (are) engaging with our employees constantly and we've made sure that our engagement structures are open and that our employees know exactly when and where to come to if they've got any issues that they would like to bring to our attention," she said.