It has been reported that four striking miners have been shot by security guards using rubber bullets at the Aurora goldmine in South Africa. It is alleged that shots were fired to break up clashes between strikers and scabs.
A police spokesperson said that:
“Four miners have been shot, and four people have been arrested for public violence.”
The goldmine is said to be owned by the nephew of the President, Jacob Zuma, and also the grandson of Nelson Mandela. It is being reported that the miners have not been paid for two years.
This follows the massacre two weeks ago of 34 striking miners at the Lonmin Marikana platinum mine.
Trouble at the Aurora mine has escalated since former ANC politician Julius Malema made a speech at a rally over the weekend. As well as the expected anti-Zuma and anti-government rhetoric, Malema said that he would make South African mines ‘ungovernable’.
More details to follow, as they emerge
Comments
Just a note that Julius
Just a note that Julius Malema isn't an ANC politician, he was expelled from the party for singing "shoot the Boer", which they said was hate speech.
(And on and editing note, the "violence" tag is for theoretical articles about political violence, so I will update that now)
not been paid for two years,
not been paid for two years, is that a typo?
Changed it to former ANC
Changed it to former ANC politician
No its not a typo. Deatils of
No its not a typo. Deatils of the story remain a bit sketchy, but all news sources are reporting that the workers have not been paid for two years,
just a note, but Julius
just a note, but Julius Malema is an opportunist anti-worker 'leftist' politician, and that it is worth reading Ayanda Kota's article about him for the paper of the militant shack dwellers movement Abahlali baseMjondolo.
http://abahlali.org/node/8116
I'd be surprised if he is in any way the cause behind this, and i'm more inclined to suspect that he is attempting to ride a wave of popular worker anger for electoral purposes.
Harrison wrote: just a note,
Harrison
that's exactly right. He's just a populist
Every time I read about South
Every time I read about South Africa I can just hear Special AKA Free Nelson Mandela in my head.