South African government warns against intimidation during mining strike

As hectic negotiations were going on to end a two-week strike crippling the platinum sector, the South African government on Wednesday warned against intimidation that emerged out of the strike. "The scenes of intimidation that are beginning to emerge out of the mine strike in Rustenburg (a mining area near Johannesburg) are deeply disturbing and unnecessary," Labor Minister Mildred Oliphant said. The minister called on all the parties to commit to an early resolution of the impasse at the platinum mines. Called by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), about 80,000 mineworkers downed tools two weeks ago with a demand that the three major mines, Anglo American Platinum, Impala Platinum and Lonmin raise the minimum wages to 12,500 rand (about 1,130 US dollars). A new round of talks aimed at ending the strike began on Monday after previous talks failed. There have been reports that non-striking workers were intimidated and even attacked during the strike. Intimidation and violence have no place in wage negotiations, said Oliphant. "In as much as those workers who are on strike are exercising their right, they should also respect the right of other workers who do not wish to be part of the strike. Violence and intimidation cannot be condoned and law enforcement should take the necessary steps to protect lives and property, said Oliphant. The minister also cautioned again long-drawn out strikes saying that in the end, workers do not benefit anything. "I am of the view that after a certain period of sustained action, the strike ceases to be a weapon for workers interests but an arrow that inflicts pain and wounds in the workers themselves. Precisely because of the principle of no work no pay, by the time a settlement is reached, workers have lost a lot more than they could ever gain," she said. "To all negotiators, I know that you are busy with the negotiations. I wish that you will find one another (employers and unions) sooner rather than later and come to the agreement as swiftly as possible." "We are still reeling from the world economic meltdown and we need to get the country working as smoothly as possible to be able to get the economy to create the jobs we so desperately need," the minister said. The companies, she said, also lose out in the long run and as partners, both sides need to ensure that they agree as soon as possible. In response to a threat by Amplats that close to 2,000 workers stand to be retrenched as a result of the strike, Oliphant said that kind of talk does not make the negotiations easy. The latest development came after Minister of Mineral Resources Susan Shabangu said on Tuesday that the government has intervened boldly and decisively to provide leadership and restore stability in the mining sector. "I can confidently declare that we have restored the rule of law, peace and stability in this industry," Shabangu told delegates attending the Investing in Africa Mining Indaba taking place in Cape Town.