Cosatu workers chased away

2012-10-27 13:32

Cosatu

Johannesburg - A group of Cosatu marchers who arrived at the Olympia Stadium in Rustenburg on Saturday were chased away by a group of striking Anglo Platinum (Amplats) workers dressed in black t-shirts.

The rest of the marchers were still making their way towards the stadium from the city centre.

The Congress of the SA Trade Unions marchers, clad in their signature red t-shirts stood 500 metres from the strikers.

The strikers then made their way towards them, and the Cosatu marchers fled and scattered in all directions.

One of the strikers, Tshepang Moloi said they belonged to the Rustenburg branch of the National Striking Committee.

The committee claims to represent striking mineworkers in Gauteng, North West and Limpopo.

Moloi said they would not return to work until Amplats gave them a R16 000 salary increase.

"We have a message for [Cosatu general secretary] Zwelinzima Vavi: 'We are not going back to work until our demands are met'."

He said the R2 000 bonus was never negotiated by unions or worker representatives.

"It comes from management."

Vavi tweeted earlier on Saturday morning that “about 1500 people opposed to Cosatu rally have occupied the stadium.” He said police must protect “our right to assemble”.

On Saturday Amplats announced that it would re-instated 12 000 striking workers who were dismissed after they did not attend disciplinary hearings.

Moloi denied that his group attacked Cosatu marchers.

"All we did was ask them politely to take off their t-shirts, which we then set on fire."

The strikers carried placards. One read: 'Don't Let Police Get Awaya with Murder.'

The rest of the marchers were still making their way to the stadium.

Amplats workers have been on a wildcat strike since September 12, demanding to be paid a minimum of R16 000 a month.

- SAPA