Chamber not a bargaining council

"The chamber of mines is a mouthpiece for the oppressor," he said, referring to mine bosses.

 

He was speaking outside Impala Platinum's head office in Illovo where hundreds of striking mineworkers had gathered.

 

Amcu-affiliated mineworkers in the platinum sector have been on strike for over two months, demanding a minimum wage of R12,500 a month for all workers.

 

They have rejected the companies' offer of a nine percent wage increase.

 

Mathunjwa earlier told the crowd moves were underway to expand the strike.

 

"We have filed an application with Nedlac [National Economic Development and Labour Council] in Rosebank," he said.

 

"We want our workers in the gold and coal sectors to join us."

 

Earlier in the day, traffic came to a standstill on Jan Smuts Avenue in Johannesburg as Amcu-affiliated mineworkers marched to Illovo. Dozens of buses had dropped off marchers.

 

Traffic was re-directed.

 

- Sapa