Wednesday, September 19, 2012

BBC News - South Africa police fire at Marikana mine protesters


South African police have fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse protesters at a mine owned by Anglo American, a day after a deal ended a strike in Marikana.
Striking miners dance and cheer after they were informed of a wage increase offer by Lonmin on 18 September 2012Miners celebrated the end of the strike on Tuesday
"We are not tolerating any illegal gatherings," a police spokesman said.
Workers at the Lonmin-owned Marikana platinum mine ended their six-week strike after accepting a 22% pay rise.
The strikes have spread to other mines in South Africa, one of the world's biggest producers of precious metals.
On Monday, President Jacob Zuma said that the disruption had cost the industry $548m (£337m) in lost output.
Last month, police opened fire on demonstrators at the mine in Marikana, killing 34 striking workers. Ten people, including two police officers, had already died in the protests.
President Zuma has ordered a judicial inquiry into what has become known as the "Marikana massacre" - the deadliest police action since the end of apartheid in 1994.
When news of the Lonmin deal was announced, the BBC's Andrew Harding in Johannesburg said there was a risk that the deal could trigger new turmoil in other mines - given the Lonmin action was an illegal strike that involved serious intimidation of those who refused to join.
Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) has said it has re-opened its mines and expects them to be fully working by Wednesday.
The world's largest platinum producer suspended operations last week after thousands of people protested outside one of its mines in Rustenburg, which is the centre of platinum mining in South Africa - about 80km (50 mile) north-east of Johannesburg.

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