Premier Modise condemns torching of mineworker
The attack and torching of a worker at Amplats’s Swartklip Union Mine allegedly by striking mineworkers at Sefikile is an appalling and barbaric act, Premier Thandi Modise said on Friday.
“We condemn in the strongest term the heinous deed and call on the community to assist police to bring the perpetrators to book,” Premier Modise stressed.
Modise said that intimidation of non-striking workers, violence associated with the current strike undermines the rule of law, peace and stability in the mining sector and should be stamped out before it ferments more violence and loss of lives.
According to police, the 46-year-old man was attacked by four men at 04:30 on Thursday while on his way to work.
“Two men initially stopped him and asked if he was going to work,” Brigadier Thulane Ngubane said.
Two men wearing balaclavas then arrived and pointed a firearm at him and took him to the nearby open veld and attacked him.
"They assaulted him with sticks and knobkerries. After he collapsed, assailants removed his socks and soaked them in petrol. They tied them on his belt before setting him alight." Ngubane said.
The four men allegedly robbed the miner of his cellphone and left him for dead. Ngubane said the man took off his burning clothes and ran naked towards the shaft. He was taken to the mine hospital and treated for second degree burns and head injuries.
Police opened a case of attempted murder, pointing a firearm, and robbery. No arrests had been made.
Striking platinum miners belonging to the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) have been on a four-week-long wage-related strike.
Members of Amcu at Lonmin, Anglo American Platinum and Impala Platinum went on strike on 23 January, demanding a R12 500 basic monthly salary for miners.
The platinum producers proposed a three-year agreement last month. The proposal was a 9% increase for A-level workers, 8.5% for B-level and 7.5% for C-level workers in the first year.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele, Spokesperson
Tel: 018 388 3705
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 388 3157
E-mail: LKgwele@gmail.com
