NUM: Members ‘to defend themselves’ following Marikana miner’s death
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has threatened to take matters into their own hands following the death of miner at Lonmin's Roland shaft in the North West on Friday.
Leaders at the union say the killing is politically motivated.
NUM deputy president Phillip Vilakazi blames the rise in such killings on territory wars among unions organising in and around Marikana.
"The member who who been gunned down this morning, early, is a member of the National Union of Mineworkers who has been so instrumental in making sure that workers are perfectly represented by NUM but of course since 2012 there has been this turmoil of saying any person who is holding a different view or a person who supports NUM has been living under threat for some time."
According to Vilakazi the miner and a member of NUM was on his way to work when he was shot and killed by unknown assailants.
He has asked for Police Minister Bheki Cele to intervene, failing which union members will be left with no choice but to defend themselves.
"Enough is enough, one death is too many," he says.
"We're going to allow our members to defend themselves."
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