100s of miners march through Marikana

2012-09-05 10:41

Some of the striking Lonmin miners. (Felix Dlangamandla, Beeld)

Rustenburg - Hundreds of miners started marching from Lonmin's mine in Marikana to its mine in Karee on Wednesday morning in an apparent attempt to stop their colleagues from working there.

Reuters news agency put the number of marchers at more than 1 000.

Led by police Nyala vehicles, the miners planned to make their way through the town of Marikana and walk the 5km to Karee.

Security had been tightened at the Marikana mine in anticipation of the march, with additional mine security guards and police on patrol from dawn.

On Tuesday, about 200 mineworkers met at the Karee mine's shaft 30, and tried to get their colleagues to stop working. Another march was then planned for Wednesday morning.

'R12 500 or nothing else'

Police in armoured vehicles also kept an eye on the Nkaneng squatter camp at Wonderkop, near the Marikana mine.

One man at the front of the column waved a placard reading "We want 12 500 or nothing else" in reference to the demand of a monthly salary of R12 500.

Talks between worker representatives, unions, the labour department and management were expected to resume on Wednesday in Rustenburg.

Workers have been on strike for the past three weeks.

On August 16, police fired on a group of protesting workers near the mine, killing 34 and wounding 78.

Another 10 people were killed earlier that week, including two policemen and two security guards.

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- SAPA