person:charlene smith

SJC Statement on Marikana Tragedy « Social Justice Coalition
►http://www.sjc.org.za/posts/sjc-statement-on-marikana-tragedy

The full extent and sequence of events that led to this tragedy are still unclear. It is however apparent that a severe vacuum in leadership led to the escalation of a potentially dangerous situation which had been brewing for months. It also appears likely that SAPS made several errors which culminated in a volatile situation in which heavily armed police officers engaged strikers with disproportionate and excessive force, for which there can be no excuse.

The SJC notes President Jacob Zuma’s announcement to establish a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the incident. To be effective, such an inquiry must investigate events leading up to and including the tragedy – including the roles played by SAPS, Lonmin Platinum, Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), government ministers (including but not limited to Police, Mines and Labour), and other involved parties.

Tales from a mine shaft | Thought Leader
►http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/lazolandamase/2012/08/21/tales-from-a-mine-shaft

How long will our society allow the mining industry to ruin the lives of poor South Africans? How long will our society allow the mining industry to rake millions out of the South African economy while leaving destitute the very people whose labour it exploited in the process? If the events at Lonmin are anything to go by, one day the South Africa working class will take matters into its own hands. And by that time it will no longer be armed with spears and knobkerries. It will long have realised that the power of the mine bosses is their relationship with the government and its gun-toting police.

No angels in the bloody Lonmin clashes, by Terry Bell | Groundup
►http://groundup.org.za/content/no-angels-bloody-lonmin-clashes

The ongoing tension and violence at South Africa’s Lonmin platinum mine is a much more complex and messy business than a simple turf war between unions in the Rustenburg region of the country.