Three miners killed, 6 wounded
Three miners have been killed and six others stabbed on their way to work in the Rustenburg platinum belt, North West police said on Monday.
On Monday, a 60-year-old mineworker was found dead with multiple stab wounds in Bapong, police spokesman Brigadier Thulane Ngubane said.
"On Sunday, in Bapong village, a couple was found strangled to death, the wife was stripped naked, the husband was a mineworker... the couple ran an illegal
shebeen," said Ngubane.
Another miner was burned to ashes in the Big House informal settlement in Bapong.
Members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) at Impala Platinum, Lonmin, and Anglo American Platinum have been on strike since January 23 demanding a basic salary of R12,500 a month.
National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) regional secretary Sydwell Dolokwana blamed Amcu members for the three deaths.
"We blame Amcu for the deaths because [they] intimidated our members who wanted to go to work on Monday," said Dolokwana.
He said the employer was also to blame.
"Our employer urged workers to report for duty on Monday and they could not even ensure the safety of the workers."
- Sapa