Amplats strike begins in Rustenburg

A strike by Amcu over retrenchments began at Anglo American Platinum's (Amplats) mines in Rustenburg on Friday.

 

At Khuseleka shaft one members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union gathered at a sports field, with many singing and clapping hands.

 

They screamed at a woman who was seen walking towards the shaft asking: "O ya kae? (where are you going?)". 

 

She turned back and hopped into a car that stopped next to her and sped to the shaft.

 

Union leaders said a last minute meeting to end the strike was held on Thursday night.

 

"We are in Johannesburg -- we have been in a meeting over night in a bid to resolve the strike," said Evans Ramokga, one of the local union leaders.

 

"The strike continues. Workers are meeting at their workplace."

 

The Amcu members hope to stop Amplats from retrenching 3300 workers at its Rustenburg operation -- a process which the company said would start on September 2.

 

At the mine, a group of strikers sang liberation songs while marching to the shaft.

 

They were demanding that cars parked at the shaft be removed.

 

They were stopped by armed security guards at the gate. After talking to the guards, they turned back.

 

"Take the cars out," they shouted before turning to leave.

 

Police were monitoring.

 

-Sapa