AN INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL
30/10/2012
Yesterday evening, the Amplats workers had a meeting to discuss the false allegations from the national media that they have signed an agreement with management on their conditions of reinstatement.
The management announced that it expected workers to resume their duties this week and that they have reached a compromise with the worker. Yet none of the strikers have showed up at work, they have crushed and disagree with the terms of the proposal.
Last night, the police disrupted the strikers' meeting outside Jabula village, dispersed the workers with rubber bullets and arrested 14 of them, going into people's shacks and harassing them.
This morning, the strike committee called for a general meeting in response. One of the shafts couldn't make it in time as it had already been dispersed by the police.
About 6000 workers met at the Bathopele shaft.
As they were leaving, the workers were confronted with a massive police blockade of about 40 police cars. The police shot heavily at them, and blasted their vehicles with live ammunition. They shot and wounded a worker in the legs. Most workers dispersed and fled as they were under heavy fire.
The workers are adamant that they will not go back to work unless they at least get a living wage for all of R12 500. After their meeting with management yesterday they called for a peaceful resolution of the issue. Again, the management is showing that they will only end the strike through brute force. This is the second time this week that rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades are used against the Amplats workers in Rustenburg.
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