Malema criminally charged after unrest at mines - Solidarity

Today the trade union Solidarity laid charges of incitement to public violence and intimidation against the former ANC Youth League leader, Julius Malema, at the Lyttelton police station in Centurion. This comes after Malema was reported to have stoked unrest at various mines.

Solidarity attributed the violence earlier this week at Gold One's Modder East gold mine at Springs to Malema's utterances at Aurora's Grootvlei Mine; he had encouraged previous employees to make all mines across the country "ungovernable". According to reports, some of the workers Malema addressed were retrenched mine workers from Gold One.

Johan Kruger, spokesperson for Solidarity, said that Malema's statements about a ‘mining revolution' are cause for concern. "Violent protests at mines are not spontaneous. He encourages violence for his own gain. Malema is an opportunist who uses unrest to try to revive his political career. He continues to attempt to capitalise on the Marikana tragedy to further his own political agenda. Malema cannot be allowed to rule by fear and sow fear among foreign investors and South Africans."

Kruger added that Malema's statement that he would make the mines ungovernable until ‘the farmers come to the table' also causes race polarisation. "These statements polarise mine workers and puts the lives of workers who do not participate in illegal action's lives in danger."

Statement issued by Johan Kruger, Spokesperson: Solidarity, September 5 2012

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