Labor unrest continues at South African platinum mine

Labor unrest continued unabated on Wednesday at the violence-stricken Lonmin Marikana Platinum Mine in South Africa as hundreds of miners staged a march to press their demand for higher salaries. The miners were marching from the Lonmin mine to another mine in Karee in the North West Province, according to eye witnesses. Organizers of the march said the workers will not retreat from its demand for the company to raise their salaries from the current 4,500 rand (about 536 U.S. dollars) to 12,500 (about 1,488 dollars). The march came hours before the resumption of negotiations among worker representatives, unions, the government and management on Wednesday. The talks were postponed on Monday to allow parties more time to peruse the report-back presented by unions and Lonmin Platinum mine workers' representatives. On Tuesday, some workers at the Lonmin mine returned to work but were barred by their colleagues from doing so. To prevent clashes, police have beefed up security at the mine, with the help from mine security guards. The mine has adopted a no-work-no-pay policy, exerting a toll on the striking workers who see no choice but to approach cash loan outlets for help. Thousands of miners staged a wage protest on Aug. 10. During the protest, internal fighting broke out among the miners affiliated with different unions, leaving 10 people killed, including two police officers. In ensuing clashes with police, 34 miners were shot dead and 78 others wounded. Police also arrested 270 miners for suspected involvement in violent activities. The detained miners were charged with murders of their colleagues. But the charge was dropped later due to public outcry. Authorities also agreed to release the miners, with the first batch of about 50 released on Monday.