More striking miners shot in South Africa

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.

Submitted by working class … on September 3, 2012

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

Steven.

11 years 6 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Steven. on September 3, 2012

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)

Havaan

11 years 6 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Havaan on September 3, 2012

not been paid for two years, is that a typo?

working class …

11 years 6 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by working class … on September 3, 2012

Changed it to former ANC politician

working class …

11 years 6 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by working class … on September 3, 2012

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,

Harrison

11 years 6 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Harrison on September 4, 2012

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.

Steven.

11 years 6 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Steven. on September 4, 2012

Harrison

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.

that's exactly right. He's just a populist

Iskra

11 years 6 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Iskra on September 6, 2012

Every time I read about South Africa I can just hear Special AKA Free Nelson Mandela in my head.