SACP STATEMENT ON THE VIOLENCE AT LONMIN

The SACP is shocked and dismayed at the reports of violence at the mining houses of Lonmin. Our heartfelt condolences to family, friends and relatives who have lost their loved ones in this spate of insensible attacks directed at settling workplace differences.

The South African workers cannot under democracy continue to live in fear of associating freely especially given our history with the mining sector specifically wherein under apartheid tribal wars and killings where the order of the day. Many activists in the mining sector lost lives fighting for trade union rights. It cannot be that today people resort to violence to force mine workers to join a particular union.

The mine bosses must take responsibility for their complicity in endeavors to undermine the NUM and provide a fertile ground for anarchy to prevail in the mines. Had the bosses acted in good faith within agreed parameters of agreements this would have not seen the light of the day. These greedy bosses, in their quest for profits the acted outside the scope of bargaining agreements and ended up with blood in their hands instead of more money.

It has become clear to the SACP that those who have an ulterior motive to undermine the political and bargaining power of the NUM have now resorted to violence, including taking away life, in order to diminish the strength of the union. The law enforcement agencies have also been found wanting greatly in this regards. This calls for the NUM to take extra measures to secure life of its members unless its proud role will be wiped out by the bullet.

The SACP calls on the police to act swiftly and bring to book these hooligans who have substituted reason and dialogue for bullets.

Statement issued by the SACP, August 14 2012

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