This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/05/marching-marikana-miners-kill-threat
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Marching Marikana miners threaten to kill colleagues who work on | Marching Marikana miners threaten to kill colleagues who work on |
| (6 days later) | |
| More than 3,000 striking South African miners marched through the streets of Marikana on Wednesday, threatening to kill colleagues who continued working and to burn down a Lonnmin mine shaft. | More than 3,000 striking South African miners marched through the streets of Marikana on Wednesday, threatening to kill colleagues who continued working and to burn down a Lonnmin mine shaft. |
| It was the biggest protest since last month's police massacre which claimed 34 lives, the bloodiest incident involving security forces since the end of racial apartheid in 1994. | It was the biggest protest since last month's police massacre which claimed 34 lives, the bloodiest incident involving security forces since the end of racial apartheid in 1994. |
| Tensions ran high as the workers, waving sticks, knobkerries and tree branches and easily outnumbering police, marched on the Karee mine and vowed to bring Lonmin to its knees. | Tensions ran high as the workers, waving sticks, knobkerries and tree branches and easily outnumbering police, marched on the Karee mine and vowed to bring Lonmin to its knees. |
| The striking miners gave working colleagues a deadline of 1pm to leave Karee mine or face deadly retribution. "After one we don't want to see anybody in the shaft," said one striker who refused to give his name. "Those who come to work tomorrow we will kill them." | The striking miners gave working colleagues a deadline of 1pm to leave Karee mine or face deadly retribution. "After one we don't want to see anybody in the shaft," said one striker who refused to give his name. "Those who come to work tomorrow we will kill them." |
| Another man shouted: "There will be more blood if we do not get 12,500 rand." | Another man shouted: "There will be more blood if we do not get 12,500 rand." |
| Following an intervention by two Methodist ministers, a delegation of seven workers were led past armoured police cars and a water cannon truck to the Karee mine. The group – all black – conversed through a barbed wire gate with mine managers and security guards – all but one of them white. | Following an intervention by two Methodist ministers, a delegation of seven workers were led past armoured police cars and a water cannon truck to the Karee mine. The group – all black – conversed through a barbed wire gate with mine managers and security guards – all but one of them white. |
| After the brief meeting, one of the workers, Samkele Mpapani, 36, said: "We told the management to please close the shaft by 1pm. I don't want more guys to die. This shaft has not been listening to the employees." | After the brief meeting, one of the workers, Samkele Mpapani, 36, said: "We told the management to please close the shaft by 1pm. I don't want more guys to die. This shaft has not been listening to the employees." |
| Jan Thirion, a senior manager at the shaft, claimed the men had threatened to kill everyone there. "The delegation from the strikers told me that if I didn't get all the workers out of the shaft by 1pm they would burn down the shaft," he said. "We want to talk peace; they want to talk war. | Jan Thirion, a senior manager at the shaft, claimed the men had threatened to kill everyone there. "The delegation from the strikers told me that if I didn't get all the workers out of the shaft by 1pm they would burn down the shaft," he said. "We want to talk peace; they want to talk war. |
| "I pleaded with them to come back to work. Let us sign the peace accord that's being worked on now because it's not to anybody's advantage to do what they're doing." | "I pleaded with them to come back to work. Let us sign the peace accord that's being worked on now because it's not to anybody's advantage to do what they're doing." |
| The strike was setting a dangerous precedent, Thirion added. "It's like putting a gun at someone's head, saying, 'Pay us first, then we'll come back to work.' From here on, if you say that, you might as well close all South Africa's mines." | The strike was setting a dangerous precedent, Thirion added. "It's like putting a gun at someone's head, saying, 'Pay us first, then we'll come back to work.' From here on, if you say that, you might as well close all South Africa's mines." |
| A line of police armoured personnel carriers stood between the green-roofed Karee mine complex and the throng of singing, dancing strikers and their supporters. Riot police armed with teargas and assault rifles kept watch while police helicopters hovered overhead. | A line of police armoured personnel carriers stood between the green-roofed Karee mine complex and the throng of singing, dancing strikers and their supporters. Riot police armed with teargas and assault rifles kept watch while police helicopters hovered overhead. |
| One man at the front of the column waved a placard that said: "We want 12,500 or nothing else," a reference to the group's demand for a hike in base pay to 12,500 rand (£935) a month, more than double their current basic salary. | One man at the front of the column waved a placard that said: "We want 12,500 or nothing else," a reference to the group's demand for a hike in base pay to 12,500 rand (£935) a month, more than double their current basic salary. |
| Some waved a photograph of a young man they named as Noki Mgcineni, who was killed in the police massacre. Xolani Mzuzu, a striking miner, said: "We consider him a hero, like Chris Hani," – a reference to a murdered leader of the anti-apartheid struggle. | Some waved a photograph of a young man they named as Noki Mgcineni, who was killed in the police massacre. Xolani Mzuzu, a striking miner, said: "We consider him a hero, like Chris Hani," – a reference to a murdered leader of the anti-apartheid struggle. |
| The marchers retreated after a two-hour standoff and proceeded through the town of Marikana, watched by shopkeepers, schoolchildren and other curious onlookers. There was no violence. | The marchers retreated after a two-hour standoff and proceeded through the town of Marikana, watched by shopkeepers, schoolchildren and other curious onlookers. There was no violence. |
| Demonstrators interviewed by the Guardian insisted the dispute was not about politics or union rivalry but simply pay. Noima Jack, 29, said: "Lonmin is undermining the workers. They say they are transparent and respect the workers but they do neither." | Demonstrators interviewed by the Guardian insisted the dispute was not about politics or union rivalry but simply pay. Noima Jack, 29, said: "Lonmin is undermining the workers. They say they are transparent and respect the workers but they do neither." |
| The strike by rock drill operators and other miners is now in its fourth week and is threatening to cripple London-based Lonmin. Only 4.2% of its shift workers reported for duty on Wednesday. Lonmin has warned that the strike could cost 40,000 jobs if it continues. | The strike by rock drill operators and other miners is now in its fourth week and is threatening to cripple London-based Lonmin. Only 4.2% of its shift workers reported for duty on Wednesday. Lonmin has warned that the strike could cost 40,000 jobs if it continues. |
| Both Marikana and Karee, about 80 miles north-west of Johannesburg, have been closed since thousands of rock drillers went on a wildcat strike and protest nearly four weeks ago that led to the 16 August police crackdown. | Both Marikana and Karee, about 80 miles north-west of Johannesburg, have been closed since thousands of rock drillers went on a wildcat strike and protest nearly four weeks ago that led to the 16 August police crackdown. |
| Marikana accounts for the vast majority of the platinum output of Lonmin, which itself accounts for 12% of global supply of the precious metal used in jewellery and vehicle catalytic converters. | Marikana accounts for the vast majority of the platinum output of Lonmin, which itself accounts for 12% of global supply of the precious metal used in jewellery and vehicle catalytic converters. |
| The strike has raised fears that the labour unrest which has hit the platinum belt this year could spread to the gold sector. South Africa is home to 80% of known platinum reserves and is the world's fourth-largest gold producer. | The strike has raised fears that the labour unrest which has hit the platinum belt this year could spread to the gold sector. South Africa is home to 80% of known platinum reserves and is the world's fourth-largest gold producer. |
| Talks between Lonmin management, unions and the government to ease tensions and get the striking miners back resumed in the nearby city of Rustenburg. | Talks between Lonmin management, unions and the government to ease tensions and get the striking miners back resumed in the nearby city of Rustenburg. |
| About 50 miners charged with murder after the tragedy were freed on Monday. Around another 220 still in police custody are expected to be released on Thursday. | About 50 miners charged with murder after the tragedy were freed on Monday. Around another 220 still in police custody are expected to be released on Thursday. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |