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S African miners strike on safety S African miners strike on safety
(about 2 hours later)
South African mine workers have begun a one-day strike in protest at poor safety in the country's mines. South African mine workers are holding a one-day strike in protest at poor safety in the country's mines.
About 240,000 workers are taking part in the stoppage - the first countrywide strike by miners over safety issues. Some 240,000 people were expected to take part in the first countrywide stoppage by miners over safety issues.
Mineworkers are gathering in central Johannesburg for a protest march expected to draw up to 40,000 people. In Johannesburg, protesters are gathering for a march which organisers hope will draw 40,000 people.
More than 180 workers have been killed this year in the country's mines, with another two dying in recent days - slightly fewer than 200 deaths in 2006. At least 200 workers have been killed this year in the country's mines, including three dying in recent days - more than the 199 who died in 2006.
The strike is expected to halt work at global firms such as AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields and Harmony, hurting output and revenues and - unions hope - pressuring companies to spend more on safety. South Africa is the continent's biggest gold exporter and a large producer of platinum, with some of the deepest mines in the world and one of the worst reputations for mine safety.
The strike is just a prelude of things to come, things are coming to a head Nick Goodwin, analyst Unions also hope the strike will force government to prosecute negligent mine owners. 'Empty commitments'
"Workers are saying enough is enough. Safety is needed now," said Erick Gcilitshana, the health and safety head of the National Union of Mineworkers, which is organising the strike. The strike - called by South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) - is expected to halt work at more than 60 mining companies such as AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields and Harmony, hurting output and revenues.
Workers are saying enough is enough Erick GcilitshanaNational Union of Mineworkers
The union wants to put pressure on firms to spend more on safety and force the government to prosecute negligent mine owners.
It says that with the gold price at its highest level in a quarter of a century, the number one priority for the employers has become production.
"Workers are saying enough is enough. Safety is needed now," said Erick Gcilitshana, the NUM health and safety head.
"The industry made a lot of empty commitments and the fatality rates are forever rising to the stars...employers need to take a leadership role and invest in safety in the same way they invest in production," he added."The industry made a lot of empty commitments and the fatality rates are forever rising to the stars...employers need to take a leadership role and invest in safety in the same way they invest in production," he added.
The NUM expects that some 40,000 people will march in central Johannesburg to the headquarters of South Africa's Chamber of Mines, the industry employer's body, to hand over their demands.
"We share these concerns with the union," Frans Barker, a senior Chamber of Mines official, told the BBC.
"We've agreed with the union that they will go on this work-stoppage, in exchange for which the parties will sit down in the next few weeks and months. And we're going to jointly work out action plans and pledges to address the issue of safety."
The strike comes as a safety audit into mining - ordered by President Thabo Mbeki - is due to start later this month.
Fatal reputationFatal reputation
South Africa is Africa's biggest gold exporter and a large producer of platinum, with some of the deepest mines in the world and one of the world's worst reputations for mine safety. South Africa's mines have one of the world's worst safety records.
In October, more than 3,000 miners were trapped a mile underground at a Harmony Gold mine, some for as long as 40 hours. About 3,000 workers were trapped underground in October
About 3,000 workers were trapped underground in OctoberNone were seriously injured but Harmony Gold's Patrice Motsepe said at the time: "Our safety records both as a company and a country leave much to be desired." In October, more than 3,000 miners were trapped a mile (1.6km) underground at a Harmony Gold mine, some for as long as 40 hours.
In recent days, more people have died in mining accidents. None were seriously injured but Harmony Gold's Patrice Motsepe said at the time: "Our safety records both as a company and a country leave much to be desired."
Anglo Platinum shut a shaft at its biggest mine, Rustenburg, after a worker was killed in an accident on Friday. In recent days, three people have been killed in separate accidents.
Angloplats - majority owned by Anglo Platinum - said on Monday that a worker had been killed at one of its mines on Saturday. South Africa's mining sector accounts for some 16% of the country's GDP.
A separate audit into mining may force mining firms to invest in mine safety.
"The strike is just a prelude of things to come, things are coming to a head," Nick Goodwin, a resources analyst, told Reuters news agency.
"Any changes to mine design as a result of this audit would affect the costs, and hurt the company's bottom line," he added.