NUM denies provoking Marikana strikers
2013-02-07 13:33
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Rustenburg - The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) denied
on Thursday that it had provoked striking Marikana miners in North West last
year.
This was the testimony of NUM president Senzeni Zokwana to
the Farlam commission of inquiry, which is holding public hearings on the
matter in Rustenburg.
Dali Mpofu, for the miners injured and arrested during the
strike at the Lonmin platinum mine in Marikana last year, asked Zokwana if it
was not unwise of the union to not only oppose the strike, but also help miners
to work during the strike.
"I can say... what the NUM branch did confirm with our
principle. They assisted the willing."
Zokwana said workers all had the same rights and if they did
not arrive for work they could be fired. NUM was assisting those who wanted to
work.
Mpofu argued strikers would see this as weakening the strike
and provocative.
"I don't think... I have to justify the usage of
violence from a section of workers. Rock drill operators (RDOs) are a section
of workers," Zokwana said.
He said they did not consult with other groups of workers
whether they wanted to join the strike. Therefore those workers were still
entitled to work.
"It would have been wrong of RDOs to expect other
workers to follow suit."
'Third force'
Zokwana said that by the end of the commission it would
become clear there was "a third force" behind the strike egging it
on.
"Somebody was behind the forest."
Mpofu told Zokwana they would discuss this matter more
extensively at a later stage.
Mpofu said he would argue the strikers were provoked by the
NUM not only by their assistance to non-strikers, but also when shots were
fired at strikers on 11 August.
NUM shop stewards allegedly fired at a large group of
strikers who marched towards the union offices at Marikana with the intention
to burn it down. Two strikers were injured and hospitalised.
Zokwana said the shop stewards were also threatened as the
strikers were armed and planned to burn down the building.
"People don't have the right to kill, no matter how
provoked they are."
The commission is probing the death of 44 striking
mineworkers. Thirty-four were shot dead and 78 wounded when police opened fire
while trying to disperse a group of protesters gathered on a hill near the mine
on 16 August last year.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen
and two security guards, were killed.
- SAPA
