S Africa vows clampdown on mines unrest

South Africa said Friday it will no longer tolerate growing unrest in its key mining sector and will act against the incitement and threats of violence crippling platinum and gold mines. The government warning came as striking workers at London-listed Lonmin's platinum mine rejected a wage offer aimed at ending a wildcat stayaway that has spread to the world's top producer Anglo American Platinum (Amplats). "Our government will not tolerate these acts any further," Justice Minister Jeff Radebe told journalists. The clampdown will target illegal gatherings and the carrying of weapons as thousands of miners, armed with spears and machetes, mobilise at shuttered mines with fiery threats of violence and deeper strike action. "This is not a state of emergency. We want to bring back public order in those affected areas so that the economy of our country can continue to run normally," said Radebe who warned of police arrests. "So all those who are involved in illegal activities are going to be dealt with very swiftly without any further delay," he said. The unrest has snowballed with workers downing tools at other mines since Lonmin's strike exploded into bloodshed that claimed 45 lives, including 34 miners gunned down by police in violence that sent shockwaves through the world. Workers on Friday spurned Lonmin's offer as "an insult" after it was presented to them at the company's Marikana plant in the Rustenburg platinum belt where Amplats has also shut down five mines over safety fears. The labour strife has also spread to the gold sector where 15,000 Gold Fields miners have been striking since Sunday. "The workers rejected the offer," representative Molisi Phele told AFP of the 986 rand ($120, 92 euros) pay increase put forward by the company. "Lonmin did not respond to the workers' demand. What they (the workers) say is that their offer is an insult." The proposal, made in mediated talks late Thursday, was the first to be made by the world's number three platinum producer since it was forced to shut down its Marikana operations more than a month ago. Talks resumed Friday afternoon. Worker turnout at the mine on Friday plunged to 0.31 percent, a record low since workers walked off the job on August 10. Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan warned that the unrest if unchecked will hit already slowing economic growth and joblessness, while the violence will damage investor confidence. "If this instability continues and the lack of production continues, firstly the cost will be in terms of the overall growth numbers in South Africa," he told reporters. The backbone of South Africa's economy, the mining industry directly hires around 500,000 people and accounts for up to nearly one fifth of gross domestic product when related activities are included and 50 percent of export earnings. "Illegal gatherings, the carrying of dangerous weapons, incitement as well as threats of violence against anyone in the affected areas will be dealt with accordingly," said Radebe. "Law enforcement agencies will not hesitate to arrest those who are found to have contravened legislation governing all these acts." Lonmin has warned that an indefinite strike will threaten 40,000 jobs, while Amplats also sounded the alarm on Friday. "The focus should be on job conservation because the risk of significant job losses is very, very high," Bongani Nqwababa, Amplats finance director told SAFM public radio, saying the industry was at risk. The world's top producer on Wednesday became the second mining giant to be hit by strikes in the platinum belt where it employs 24,000 people, halting operations over safety fears after intimidation threats on staff. "It's an industry-wide issue and there's contagion," said Nqwababa. The unrest has also been used as a battleground for rival political and labour factions, with firebrand ex-youth leader Julius Malema using the unrest to attack President Jacob Zuma whose ruling ANC expelled him for ill-discipline.