NUM: Lonmin security failed us
2013-02-01 19:00
Rustenburg - Lonmin security failed the National Union of
Mineworkers (NUM) days before the deadly shooting at its Marikana mine, the
Farlam commission of inquiry heard on Friday.
"On that day, they [NUM members] were failed by the
system that was supposed to protect them," NUM president Senzeni Zokwana
told the hearing at the Rustenburg civic centre.
He was referring to the events of 11 August, when
striking workers tried to attack the NUM's office at the platinum mine, in
North West.
NUM members inside the office armed themselves on hearing
that strikers were on their way to burn down the building.
The two groups were about to meet when shots were fired
and the strikers fled. Two strikers were injured.
Ishmael Semenya, for the police, asked Zokwana if the NUM
condoned shots being fired at crowds.
"NUM would denounce any form of violence, especially
by its leaders," Zokwana answered, but said union members' lives had been
threatened by the large crowd of armed strikers.
Semenya said he was concerned that this might send a
message that people should try to defend themselves, instead of contacting the
authorities.
Zokwana said Lonmin security guards went to the NUM's
office before the strikers arrived and told members to leave as they could not
protect them.
"We would never encourage people to take it [the
law] into their own hands. It's not the way we work. We respect the law of this
country."
However, members had been let down by security on the
day.
On 16 August, 34 striking mineworkers were shot dead and
78 were wounded when police opened fire while trying to disperse a group
gathered on a hill near the mine.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two police
officers and two security guards, were hacked to death.
The commission is investigating the circumstances of the
deaths.
- SAPA
