S. African miners reject wage offer

JOHANNESBURG: South African government and striking miners hardened their stances yesterday, with miners rejecting a Lonmin platinum mine wage offer far below their demand and President Jacob Zuma’s government vowing to halt the miners’ illegal protests.
The bitter, bloody Lonmin strike has taken the lives of 45 people and has spread to two other mines. Miners are calling on co-workers to shut down mines across the country, raising fears for the future of South Africa’s biggest industry.
The strikers turned down Lonmin’s offer of a 900 rand ($112.50) increase that would give new-entry workers a basic monthly salary of 5,500 rand ($688), their leaders said.
Strikers’ representatives, mining unions, Lonmin company officials and government officials prepared to continue negotiations yesterday.
Justice Minister Jeff Radebe meanwhile warned the government will clamp down on the daily illegal marches by miners brandishing machetes, spears and clubs that have marked the strike.
Radebe told a news conference yesterday “the government will no longer tolerate illegal gatherings and brandishing of weapons in this way.” The strike spread this week to the world’s largest platinum mine, Anglo American Platinum, and has also stopped work at a Gold Fields mine.
Strikers complained that Thursday night’s offer, the first presented by London-registered Lonmin PLC since workers shut down the world’s third-largest platinum mine on Aug. 10, falls far below their demands for a minimum salary of 12,500 rand ($1,560).
Of the 45 people killed, 34 strikers were shot dead by police in a shocking display of state violence that has traumatized the nation of 48 million. Police said Thursday they had identified the latest body found this week as that of a shop steward of the National Union of Mineworkers, the industry’s largest which is allied with the governing African National Congress.
Radebe, the justice minister, was asked how the government planned to suppress the illegal marches: “The police are well acquainted with how to enforce public order in South Africa,” Radebe said.
Human rights activists have demanded that charges of murder and attempted murder be brought against police officers involved in the Aug. 16 police killings, amid reports some strikers were run over by charging armored cars, many were shot in the back as they ran away and others shot and killed as they held up their hands in surrender.