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Marikana: Hunger, fear and defiance | |
(6 months later) | |
Which will win: Hunger, fear or defiance? | Which will win: Hunger, fear or defiance? |
On the dusty plains north of Johannesburg, a gruelling battle is taking place in the world's biggest platinum mining community, as the longest, most destructive strike in South African history enters its fifth month. | On the dusty plains north of Johannesburg, a gruelling battle is taking place in the world's biggest platinum mining community, as the longest, most destructive strike in South African history enters its fifth month. |
"We just want it to end. We go to school hungry. It's hard to concentrate," said 18-year-old Thabiso, surrounded by five friends, who all nodded vigorously in agreement as they walked home from school past the grey buildings of the now-silent Marikana mine - notorious as the place where police shot dead 34 striking miners in 2012. | "We just want it to end. We go to school hungry. It's hard to concentrate," said 18-year-old Thabiso, surrounded by five friends, who all nodded vigorously in agreement as they walked home from school past the grey buildings of the now-silent Marikana mine - notorious as the place where police shot dead 34 striking miners in 2012. |
The children's mothers had been standing on the roadside nearby since before dawn, having heard that a local charity might be handing out food parcels. | The children's mothers had been standing on the roadside nearby since before dawn, having heard that a local charity might be handing out food parcels. |
"There is no money. We are struggling. But we are angry - we want 12,500," said Wendy, who did not want to give her surname. | "There is no money. We are struggling. But we are angry - we want 12,500," said Wendy, who did not want to give her surname. |
That is 12,500 South African rand - approximately $1,200 (£700) - and is the totemic figure claimed as a non-negotiable entry-level wage demand by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), the fiery new union that has swept to prominence on the platinum belt in recent years. | That is 12,500 South African rand - approximately $1,200 (£700) - and is the totemic figure claimed as a non-negotiable entry-level wage demand by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), the fiery new union that has swept to prominence on the platinum belt in recent years. |
The three mine owners at the centre of the strike - Lonmin, Amplats and Impala - say that figure, almost triple the current basic wage, is simply unaffordable. Union and management are currently locked in a new round of negotiations. | The three mine owners at the centre of the strike - Lonmin, Amplats and Impala - say that figure, almost triple the current basic wage, is simply unaffordable. Union and management are currently locked in a new round of negotiations. |
"All of us, we're prepared to die, if we don't get that 12,500," declared Kaiser Madiba, sitting playing a card game called "casino" with a group of striking miners in the informal shanty town of corrugated iron shacks, close to the spot where their 34 colleagues were shot dead almost two years ago. | "All of us, we're prepared to die, if we don't get that 12,500," declared Kaiser Madiba, sitting playing a card game called "casino" with a group of striking miners in the informal shanty town of corrugated iron shacks, close to the spot where their 34 colleagues were shot dead almost two years ago. |
Lonmin says the strike has already cost it a third of annual production, but Mr Madiba shrugged off the threat of bankruptcy. | Lonmin says the strike has already cost it a third of annual production, but Mr Madiba shrugged off the threat of bankruptcy. |
"That is not our problem. Another company will come," he insisted. | "That is not our problem. Another company will come," he insisted. |
But not every miner shares that defiance. | But not every miner shares that defiance. |
As the strike drags on and pressures on families intensify, a growing number have indicated a desire to return to work, but complain that they are being prevented by intimidation, and even by murder. | As the strike drags on and pressures on families intensify, a growing number have indicated a desire to return to work, but complain that they are being prevented by intimidation, and even by murder. |
'Army intervention' | 'Army intervention' |
"They stop us from going to work. I've been attacked three times, my wife got a miscarriage and our house was burned down," said Fred Mekgwe, a worker at the nearby Impala mine and a member of the once dominant National Union of Mineworkers. | "They stop us from going to work. I've been attacked three times, my wife got a miscarriage and our house was burned down," said Fred Mekgwe, a worker at the nearby Impala mine and a member of the once dominant National Union of Mineworkers. |
"I want that money. I'm not against the strike, but they're disrespecting the picketing rules," he said. | "I want that money. I'm not against the strike, but they're disrespecting the picketing rules," he said. |
"This is a democracy, but it's not working for us. People are being killed." | "This is a democracy, but it's not working for us. People are being killed." |
Mr Mekgwe had agreed to meet in a neutral spot, far from his home village. | Mr Mekgwe had agreed to meet in a neutral spot, far from his home village. |
As he left, another miner approached me, saying he too was scared for his life. | As he left, another miner approached me, saying he too was scared for his life. |
"I'd like to go back to work," said Thabiso Arelesego. | "I'd like to go back to work," said Thabiso Arelesego. |
"I don't have any food left at home. Let's say out of 10, about eight of us want to go back to work - the ratio is very high. | "I don't have any food left at home. Let's say out of 10, about eight of us want to go back to work - the ratio is very high. |
"Maybe if the army would intervene we'd be safe, if the army moved around the villages and the shafts." | "Maybe if the army would intervene we'd be safe, if the army moved around the villages and the shafts." |
The immediate priority may be to broker an end to the current strike, but there is a growing acknowledgement that more substantial reforms are needed to save the industry. | The immediate priority may be to broker an end to the current strike, but there is a growing acknowledgement that more substantial reforms are needed to save the industry. |
The proposals include a radical change to shift patterns, better housing for migrant workers, empowerment deals to give employees a real stake in their companies, a return to the disciplines of collective bargaining, and a frank assessment of executive pay levels. | The proposals include a radical change to shift patterns, better housing for migrant workers, empowerment deals to give employees a real stake in their companies, a return to the disciplines of collective bargaining, and a frank assessment of executive pay levels. |
"The industry needs to change the way it's been structured," said Gavin Hartford, an industrial sociologist and mining consultant. | "The industry needs to change the way it's been structured," said Gavin Hartford, an industrial sociologist and mining consultant. |
"We're one of the most unequal societies in the world and I don't believe we can deal with the labour problems if we don't grasp that nettle." | "We're one of the most unequal societies in the world and I don't believe we can deal with the labour problems if we don't grasp that nettle." |
Following a cabinet reshuffle, there is a new mining minister in place, but suspicion of the state - the police and the governing alliance which includes the trade union federation - runs deep in places like Marikana, and strong leadership appears to be in short supply. | Following a cabinet reshuffle, there is a new mining minister in place, but suspicion of the state - the police and the governing alliance which includes the trade union federation - runs deep in places like Marikana, and strong leadership appears to be in short supply. |
"There's a long road and a long journey of change still to happen, and it requires significant leadership… to create a productive, humane mining industry," said Mr Hartford. | "There's a long road and a long journey of change still to happen, and it requires significant leadership… to create a productive, humane mining industry," said Mr Hartford. |
"The sine qua non… requires us to be very honest about our failures." | "The sine qua non… requires us to be very honest about our failures." |
In the meantime, the local economy around Rustenberg - as well as the Eastern Cape where many of the migrant workers come from - is reeling under the devastating impact of the strike. | In the meantime, the local economy around Rustenberg - as well as the Eastern Cape where many of the migrant workers come from - is reeling under the devastating impact of the strike. |
"This is not taking us anywhere. The economy is going down. It's not only the mining industry," said Mr Mekgwe. | "This is not taking us anywhere. The economy is going down. It's not only the mining industry," said Mr Mekgwe. |
" The salary I'm getting is not enough, but it is my responsibility and the responsibility of the company to resolve this in an amicable way." | " The salary I'm getting is not enough, but it is my responsibility and the responsibility of the company to resolve this in an amicable way." |
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