Protesting miners sees Ramaphosa abandon Cosatu rally

Ramaphosa made several attempts to address supporters to no avail. 

Ramaphosa was scheduled to address Cosatu’s main Workers’ Day celebrations at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.

But angry miners stormed the stage chanting “he must leave” and “we want our money” while the president was preparing to address the event.

Members of the Association of  Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) have been on strike at Sibanye-Stillwater for the past seven weeks.

The unions want an increase of R1 000 for surface and underground miners and 6% for artisans, miners and officials

But the company said it could only afford to pay R850 - an offer which was rejected by the unions.

Ramaphosa promised the workers he would engage the company in an attempt to resolve the strike. 

"Let’s hear each other, let’s be quiet, we have heard you. You want your R1000, I understand that, you want the employers to give you R1 000. We've heard that message, and we will be dealing with that matter," said Ramaphosa.

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