SACP North West Media Statement

17 August 2012

Arrest Mathunjwa and Steve Kholekile as the basis for stability in the Rustenburg mines and institute Presidential Investigation Task Team, says SACP North West.

The SACP NW joins all South Africans in mourning and passing our deep condolences to all Mineworkers killed in the platinum mines in Rustenburg as the result of anarchic, violent, intimidation, murder of workers and NUM shopstewards. The chaos has been initiated under the guise of salary increase demands when in real terms it is the chaos and anarchy we see is being used as the entry point of recruitment for AMCWU. As the SACP we want to state categorically that it should have not been allowed until when death rises for law enforcement agencies and the nation’s leadership to take serious this barbaric act co-ordinated and deliberately organized by AMCWU leader Mr. Mathunjwa and Steve Kholekile who both are former NUM members expelled because of anarchy though at different times.

Before proceeding to get into the detail of this tragedy, we call on an immediate arrest of both Steve Kholekile and Mr Mathunjwa as co-ordinators, planners and leaders of this anarchic and worker to worker violence that has left many lives dead and some injured, and this applies to where they started and not only the current Lonmin process. Mr Mathunjwa could present an innocent face and try to smooth talk himself out of the crisis but we know him for who he is. He should not be allowed to perpetrate violence and appear as an innocent mediator.

We therefore call for a special Presidential Commission to investigate but not limited to: violent nature and anarchy associated with AMCWU wherever it establishes itself (starting with the scars that it has left around Witbank/Mpumalanga where it started), possible breach of both the Labour Relations Act and the SA Constitution on the freedom of association and right to form or join a union of your choice, the role of management of both Impala and Lonmin in the current problems or as facilitating the breach of both the Labour Relations Act and the Constitution, the role of the department of Labour and CCMA, possibilities of amendments to strengthen the LRA on the formation of unions as opposed to the current situation where individuals are allowed to form union like opening personal accounts or joining insurance policies as the current case with AMCWU and Mathunjwa, and the comrades who when they were supposed to be disciplined by Satawu they then formed their own union.

The SACP NW calls on workers to remain united in their fight against the exploitation under the capitalist system. Workers must realize that the class enemy is the system and not a union of NUM’s caliber or other workers. Workers must desist any temptation to mobilise them against NUM or to mobilise them to attack each other. Workers must not kill each other on the basis of demagogy and lies. Employers count loses on production and mineworkers and the working class count loses on injuries on human lives.

Issued on behalf of the SACP North West.

Madoda Sambatha

SACP NW Provincial Secretary - 082 800 5336


SACP statement on the violence at Lonmin

14 August 2012

The SACP is shocked and dismayed at the reports of violence at the mining houses of Lonmin. Our heartfelt condolences to family, friends and relatives who have lost their loved ones in this spate of insensible attacks directed at settling workplace differences.

The South African workers cannot under democracy continue to live in fear of associating freely especially given our history with the mining sector specifically wherein under apartheid tribal wars and killings where the order of the day. Many activists in the mining sector lost lives fighting for trade union rights. It cannot be that today people resort to violence to force mine workers to join a particular union.

The mine bosses must take responsibility for their complicity in endeavors to undermine the NUM and provide a fertile ground for anarchy to prevail in the mines. Had the bosses acted in good faith within agreed parameters of agreements this would have not seen the light of the day. These greedy bosses, in their quest for profits the acted outside the scope of bargaining agreements and ended up with blood in their hands instead of more money.

It has become clear to the SACP that those who have an ulterior motive to undermine the political and bargaining power of the NUM have now resorted to violence, including taking away life, in order to diminish the strength of the union. The law enforcement agencies have also been found wanting greatly in this regards. This calls for the NUM to take extra measures to secure life of its members unless its proud role will be wiped out by the bullet.

The SACP calls on the police to act swiftly and bring to book these hooligans who have substituted reason and dialogue for bullets.

Issued by the SACP

Contact:

Malesela Maleka
SACP Spokesperson