Massacre at Marikana

The leader of the breakaway Associated Mine and Construction Workers Union, Joseph Mathunjwa, was in tears as he related how he had pleaded with the thousands of striking miners who had been squatting on the Wonderkop hill for a week at Lonmin's Marikana mine in South Africa's dry North West. "I pleaded with them - (I told them) the writing is on the wall, they are going to kill you." For there was no doubt that the police meant business.

Earlier in the week two policemen had been slashed to death, another hospitalized and seven other people killed. The police were in a grim mood, wore bulletproof vests and metal helmets, were armed to the teeth with automatic weapons and had brought a whole fleet of Nyala armoured cars with them. They had announced that Thursday was D-day, that whatever happened the protest would be forcibly ended that day. In the end about 200 of the men rushed down at the police who fired indiscriminately at them, killing 34, injuring 78. Another 259 were arrested.

The director of the South African Institute of Race Relations, John Kane-Burman immediately compared the event to the Sharpeville massacre in 1960. There was, he said, "clear evidence that policemen shot randomly into the crowd. There is also clear evidence of their continuing to shoot after a number of bodies can be seen dropping and others turning to run." But this time the Left was in favour of the massacre.

Dominic Tweedie of the Communist University, Johannesburg, commented "This was no massacre, this was a battle. The police used their weapons in exactly the way they were supposed to. That's what they have them for. The people they shot didn't look like workers to me. We should be happy. The police were admirable." The Communist Party's North West section demanded the arrest of AMCWU's Muthunjwa and his deputy, James Kholelile.

"The troubles at the mine have their root in the ongoing disintegration of the National Union of Mineworkers", says Charles Van Onselen, a leading labour historian."The NUM is the biggest union and its leaders provide the labour federation, Cosatu, the Communist Party and the African National Congress with many of their leaders. So this is the entire spinal column of the ANC alliance which is fragmenting. The police have been quite routinely tolerant of violence - as during the xenophobic riots when over 60 were killed - but this time they drewa line in the sand because that is what the NUM and the ANC wanted. You'll note the complete absence of modern police methods of riot control."

The last time an NUM leader attempted to address the Marikana workers he was stoned and lost an eye. Thus this time the NUM leader was only willing to speak through a megaphone from the safety of a police armoured car. He spoke somewhat disparagingly of the workers, saying they were mainly uneducated and backward tribesmen from Lesotho and the Transkei because "township boys" were unwilling to do the dreadfully hard and dangerous workof rock-diggers miles beneath the ground.

"The fact that the locals don't want the mine jobs mean the mines depend on migrant workers", says Van Onselen. "That means mining hostels, which greatly reinforce thesystem of age cohorts and impi-like tribal behaviour. It's also very striking that they were demanding an increase of over 300% - a clearly millenarian demand. And there were a lot of sangomas (witchdoctors) up there on that hill for the last few days and you can see on film that many of the workers were wearing muti (magic charms) of one kind or another. Typically, the idea behind such muti is that it makes you invincible against your enemies."

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma cut short his visit to Mozambique to fly back to face the crisis. The clear similarity of Thursday's events to the notorious Sharpeville massacre is hugely embarrassing to the ANC. The furious attempts by the Left to suggest that the striking workers were themselves the villains of the piece will, moreover, merely strengthen the impression that this was a massacre carried out at the Left's behest.

The North West SACP claimed that "the chaos and anarchy we see is being used as the entry point for recruitment for AMCWU" and argued that the AMCWU leaders were "the planners and leaders of this anarchic and worker to worker violence", thus echoing almost word for word the rationalisations once used by Afrikaner Nationalists for the similar actions of the apartheid police.

The Solidarity trade union organizer Gideon Du Plessis, speaking from Marikana, told the Sunday Times "The ironic thing is that the NUM and the ANC would clearly like to see Lonmin sack all 3,000 of the strikers and recruit a whole new labour force because that would smash AMCWU at the mine. That would mean closing down one of the world's biggest platinum mines for quite a while, but it's probably what will happen."

President Zuma's statement that he was "saddened and dismayed" by the Marikana deaths (the police and government are very touchy at any use of the word "massacre") is echoed by most opinion-leaders here. There is a palpable sense of shock that South Africa has not escaped its history: after the abandonment of apartheid, the introduction of democracy, a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to deal with the crimes of the bad old days, after all Mandela's grace and forgiveness, the country finds itself back in a situation where armed police mow down protesting Africans - on camera. 

The most striking thing about the reaction is the lack of it. The day after the shootings neither the ANC, the trade union federation Cosatu nor the Communist Party had any comment at all in their daily bulletins. The state broadcaster, the SABC, is equally reserved and even the private e-TV station is extremely guarded and careful. A number of NGOs have issued statements deploring the shootings and calling for an enquiry, as has the opposition Democratic Alliance. Press editorials are also extremely cautious.

The problem is simply that to denounce the police is to say in effect that the government are murderers, while to say that the police were justified is tantamount to saying that some of one's fellow countrymen deserved to get shot en masse. The Star (Johannesburg) publishes an opinion piece applauding the police - "A very powerful message has been sent out and it is about time a little discipline was restored into the mind-set of South Africans", which echoes some right-wing white opinion which feels that the apartheid police were perhaps unjustly criticised for their forceful implementation of law and order. For such thoughts become thinkable again now.

There is a strong popular sense that Zuma's South Africa is effectively leaderless. Zuma is widely viewed as a do-nothing President, anxious only to keep his balance among the ANC factions and more interested in his harem of wives and accumulating vast wealth for his family. When Trevor Manuel, the Planning Minister, introduced his Plan to Parliament last week he warned that if it was not forcefully implemented the country "could slide backwards", which many took to mean that he thought that was already happening. When an Opposition leader stood up and said "This is a fine Plan but who exactly is going to implement it?" there was simply a roar of laughter from the whole assembly.

Reuel Khoza, the black head of Nedbank, has criticised South Africa's "strange breed of leaders" who are, he says, completely incapable of managing a modern state. He has also warned that under Zuma the criminalization of the state is proceeding apace. The influential Afrikaans daily Die Burger suggests that the mine shootings are another example of how the Zuma government is merely blundering about and is "losing its grip".

The Afrikaner historian Hermann Giliomee says "The ANC has created its own culture of violence and impunity. It allows all manner of violent behaviour within its own ranks. The assassination of ANC leaders by their rivals within the party has become a commonplace. Almost never is anyone punished. So it's hardly surprising that other people feel free to take up arms. The whole country is not very far from anarchy."

The official commission of enquiry will face all these conundrums. It is in the highest degree unlikely that it will conclude that the Marikana miners were shot because the National Union of Mineworkers is desperate to prevent the further erosion of the labour movement on which the ANC depends.

It is also most unlikely to denounce the police. But even if the commission confines itself to technical issues about police tactics it will not be able to contain the immense shock wave caused by the shootings. Julius Malema, the expelled ANC youth leader, was quickly on the scene at Marikana yesterday and he will only be the first to begin translating this shock into a political dynamic which will, inevitably, be aimed at toppling Jacob Zuma.

RW Johnson

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Union death It's not just the NUM that's disintegrating. Cosatu affiliates are also being deregistered for failing to submit audited financials. The reason is simple -- they either do not want anyone to know how their memberships (and subscriptions) are collapsing, . .more or how they are spending their members' subscriptions, or both. Cosatu chose to make itself a political, not labour, movement, and is now paying the price for its folly. . .less by Pendragon on August 19 2012, 17:57 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

A time to be careful what we wish for. It is not so much that the president is ineffectual as that one-party rule results in paralysis. Reflect also that if President Zuma goes - which seems more and more possible: a scapegoat may be required at the top - Mr Malema will have won. Good news . .more for SA's 'fledgling democracy'? . .less by Paul Whelan on August 19 2012, 18:02 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

a major move away from "service delivery protest" We all know that service delivery protest is merely acceptable political correctness for describing factional fighting within the ANC. Interesting to see now that the political battlefield is becoming so tense and important that the NUM (which is . .more nothing more than the ANC underground) and COSATU (which is nothing more than the ANC at work-- implied oxymoron) are feeling threatened enough to have another wing of the ANC ( the katzenjammer blue-bums which go by the fanciful name of SAPS) come in and perform some executions. We all thouight that the Andries tatane excercise was in rather poor taste. What on earth can we now expect when we see full military force being used to address the issues of the ANC at war with itself? I have always maintained that the Zulus, although they get a good press in that regard, were / are a very poor fighting force and that the Xhosas are massively under-rated in their military abilities. Zuma is too busy setting up a new royal kraal at Nkandla to worry about this latest washing of the spears and he is so compromised that he cannot do anything--his speech on return from Mozambique was read from a prepared essay and contained not one iota of spontaneous statesmanship-- incredible? The man might be cunning and sly but incompetent and now totally out of his depth. . .less by Plutarch on August 19 2012, 18:06 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Back to the '80s Excellent summary of where we are now. It chimes with what I've been saying for a while that SA is heading back to the 1980s. We are going to see a further breakdown in law and order with ongoing protests and violent strikes. Perhaps the troops will be . .more back in the townships soon? Anyone for a state of emergency in say 2015? The ANC is starting to lose support among the poor. Already, large numbers of people do not vote. One key difference with the situation then is that our white leftists have changed their tune. Of course, they can never admit that they were wrong about the ANC or about the "joys" that democracy would bring. Meanwhile Jacob "Louis XIV" Zuma is building his Versailles at Nkandla ... "Apres moi, le deluge." (After me, the deluge.) . .less by Realist on August 19 2012, 18:10 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Let's not forget.... ....the almost spontaneous Presidential decision to Commission an Inquiry. Certainly, the hidden facts (all of them) require scrutinous management - & time to produce apolitically? acceptable finding, ne ? Moving on then, - prima facie, . .more the SAPS were facing an "armed mob". We've all seen the newsreel footage of last night showing the SAPS blue line opening fire into the advancing mob. When the dust cleared the mob had bombshelled & were dispersing in earnest. Stats = 34 dead, 78 injured (+9 dead earlier). An SAPS detail was filmed retrieving a pistol out of the line of dead & injured - carefully edited with a circle to draw viewers' attention to it. HOWEVER, a year ago, LONMIN were trading at £12-£13 and the morning after they opened at £6 and are now hovering @ £6.40. So, whoever is buying is getting a slice of LONMIN at a 50% discount to their high of only a year ago ! BHP BILLITON over the same year have dropped from £21 to £19.50 (12%). NOW THEN, if you have designs on acquiring control of LONMIN, already have a lever over a militant mob & a police force that is authorised to shoot to kill, then around 40+ dead cannon fodder might seem somewhat of a bargain, ne ? Chikurubi-Cynic :( Hint: who's buying LONMIN paper that everyone else is selling ? Meanwhile the loot remains safe underground for sharing out later ? . .less by John Austin on August 19 2012, 18:34 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@John Austin Your timeline on LONMIN share price is too short. if you go back three years or so you will see the shares were trading at stg 30.00 or so. For sure there is some pain out there amongst the shareholders when they have seen 80% reduction in . .more value. However, I do not really accept your thesis that the ANC pf is busy buying up the mine-- it is a very risky business and fraught with all kinds of reporting a nd decalratory requirements. a point I would like to make is that pravin Ghordan must be just a teensy bit worried about where all his tax revenue is going to come from over the next 24 months. He is seeing some major realignments in profitability. Which brings me to my next point-- the value of the SA currency vis a vis external currencies. I would think that the probablility of a major (20% to 40%) devaluation is on the cards. . .less by Plutarch on August 19 2012, 18:51 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Agreed South Africa is just another failed useless pathetically badly run African country. I dare anyone to prove me wrong. The leaders of the ANC are utterly useless in every respect. As for their new plan that took them 2 years to make up well it is just like . .more telling a group of one year olds that you now must play the all blacks and beat them - NOT A CHANCE IN HELL OF THIS GETTING ANYWHERE TREVOR. All decent South African must stand up for the miners and the police force and all the poor people who live in terrible conditions. Somehow we must save them from the ANC. . .less by Dead End on August 19 2012, 18:51 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Thank you This is by far the most plausible and dispassionate assessment of the whole tragic affair. You dug deep , to give an understanding of the underlying tensions and dynamics. by Kay on August 19 2012, 19:24 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ Plutarch on August 19 2012, 18:51 Politics & mining in our region are interwoven - always have been, always will be. It may interest you to know that the late Tiny ROWLAND played ALL political players to himself before, during, after the liberation wars.... both sides of the . .more Zambezi & the great green greasy Limpopo. I and my family have been involved in regional mining investment since the 1960's.... and are not bottom-line losers for our trouble. The Anglo/deBeers/Minorco re-arrangements were fascinating to watch in the Mandela era... and breathtakingly profitable (if you made made buy/sell decisions against sentiment at the time). With even a hint of inside knowledge (and lots of liberation loot.....). There is BIG bucks being made in all this as I type - and it ainb't all out of good luck either. QUESTIONS remain: 1. Why no suspension of the listing & freezing of trading ? 2. Exactly WHO are buying all of this cheap LONMIN paper just now ? - the Unions, the Pension Funds, gambling VC yuppies ? 3. The mining houses themselves are notorious for pouncing upon weakness in their competition. So this is also an opportunity to build a position via proxy. Is that (also) happening here ? 4. This is a juicy Platinum mining asset here - you can be sure that there will be those who will not simply be awaiting events to unfold & reveal an outcome. . .less by John Austin on August 19 2012, 19:35 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

I warned you that Irwin Jim was the next Malema! You only have to listen to him on the TV News! by Lyndall Beddy on August 19 2012, 19:45 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ John Austin I am well aware of the investment and business strategy of the late Tiny Rowland. I acknowledge that your conspiracy theory of asset accumulation has some persuasive merit but at the end of the day I tend to believe in coque-up theory and not . .more conspiracy theory. I must say you do tend to emulate the antics of our sophist friend . who just will not let go of a theory when it has his personal signature on it. The world is a large place and the markets consist of both buyers and sellers; for all opinions in the market there are counter opinions. You say that there are some large profits being made (in LONMIN I suppose)"even as you are typing". Well, The only people who might be making money at the moment are the short sellers and (perhaps) those who are buying put options on the basis that the price can still go down by about another stg3.00 or so. judging by the unbelievabkle ineptness of president Zuma it would not surprise me if LONMIN stays closed for another fortnight or so but this will have a major impact on SA as an investment destination (unless you are a paid up member of the Moldovian mafia and travel the world with suitcases to carry your cash in which case Zuma might just be the partner you want).Loosen up a bit--- you tend to repeat yourself a tad too much . .less by Plutarch on August 19 2012, 20:12 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

closing down one of the world's biggest platinum mines for quite a while ........................ One way of getting the price of platinum to go through the ceiling , due to woes and scarcity of supply by Green Room on August 19 2012, 21:12 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Sarel Ramaphosa the former NUM negotiator , is reported to have pledged R2M to the families of the 24 recently breathing cannon fodder . makes you think , doesn't it ...... by Green Room on August 19 2012, 21:20 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

If they hadnt re-written, or not issued the history books... Perhaps the education system should go back to the Bantu Education textbooks because under the chapter titled, Blood River, it stands in bold type.DONT TAKE A SPEAR TO A GUNFIGHT. This massacre is another instance where education is failing the masses. I . .more am sure President Zumas commission of inquiry will find Angie to blame for the massacre. . .less by Mike McWilliams on August 19 2012, 22:32 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

I saw the video of what happened It was no massacre. They stormed onto the police with spears and machetes like buffalo, some were 20 meters away from the police. I blame COSATU and the SACP for their constant communist intimidation of mine workers, they call it a war, not a . .more strike. . .less by Nasdaq7 on August 19 2012, 23:12 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

They should have known better 10 people have died, including 2 police officers the day before, yet they still pitch up with weapons. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpSdoSH906g by Nasdaq7 on August 19 2012, 23:36 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ Green Room on August 19 2012, 21:20 re:- "Sarel Ramaphosa the former NUM negotiator , is reported to have pledged R2M to the families of the 24 recently breathing cannon fodder . makes you think , doesn't it ..." It certainly does make one think about one's share (or . .more not) of the R2m, viz:- a. divided by the 24 fodder mentioned by GR = R83k per family, or b. divided by the 34 culled on the day by SAPS = R58k per family; or c. divvy to include earlier 9 earlier deaths makes 43x = R46k per family, and d. Then what about the 78 injured = what's in it for them ? Still, two million rand is a pretty generous opening bid, I guess (especially in the absence of any pension plan arrangements for expendables). Chikurubi-Actuary :) p.s. MIKE McWILLIAMS - "Don't take a spear to a gunfight" - so who/what convinced them to do so anyway ? . .less by John Austin on August 19 2012, 23:56 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Aljazeeraa Aljazeera has their own footage showing a protester shooting at short range when in-between the vehicles whilst advancing - Case closed. by StevenI on August 20 2012, 03:29 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

John Austin Taking a Spear to a Gunfight is the traditional way,unchanged in centuries.The point is, the Spear-chuckers have been slow to learn that this practice is, at the least , foolhardy, and coupled to a muti flack-jacket, unhygienic too.History as a subject is . .more there to be learned from, but unfortunately, it seems South Africans are rather using it as a blueprint. . .less by Mike McWilliams on August 20 2012, 06:11 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Nasdaq7 Rubbish. the workers in the video clips were running away from being tear gassed. by Jeremy Gordin on August 20 2012, 06:51 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Analysis R W you are spot on. by Sporo on August 20 2012, 06:59 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Gee, thanks, Bill I said: If you want to add anything to what has already written you will have to interrogate the company. I said that the only thing you could usefully add as a white person to the uniform run of stories (already about 2000 at that stage) . .more was to interrogate the company, which is the Lonrho company that you know was called "the unacceptable face of capitalism" by Edward Heath in 1973. Even if that was not so, when something happens in business it is the management that must account. You said you agreed with that. I suggested that if you wanted to get "alteram parte" in the business world you could speak to your fellow-liberal Bobby Godsell who would explain how labour relations have developed in the mining industry since the Carletonville massacre, also in 1973. You said you would do so. Two unions are not better than one, not for workers, nor for employers. Godsell knows that much. Simon Scott the Lonmin CFO said on TV, sounding innocent, "we gave AMCU organising rights". In other words for no reason except to make trouble they let these known gangsters on to the premises. They knew the score. The killings started then. Lonmin were reckless with lives and it must be said, with shareholders' assets. You, Bill, also did nothing except to misrepresent and to muddy the waters. You let us all down, Bill. . .less by Domza on August 20 2012, 07:47 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Be that as it may, we don't need WHITE messiahs in dealing with our affairs. It is simple, ILLEGAL unions and strikers who murder others won't be tolerated, even after the Banks, SASOL and mines are nationalized. by Kom Net Met Dromedaries on August 20 2012, 08:02 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Plutarch "I have always maintained that the Zulus, although they get a good press in that regard, were / are a very poor fighting force and that the Xhosas are massively under-rated in their military abilities. " Oh, now you're an expert on the relative merits of . .more the Zulu and Xhosa fighting forces - along with all your other areas of expertise, right? As if this nonsense has any relevance whatsoever to what happened at Marikana. You really are a pompous prat. . .less by Jeremy Gordin on August 20 2012, 08:04 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@RW Johnson, plutarch et al Interesting that whenever something happens in Seffrica - in this case, a particularly appalling thing - people such such as these tells us that it's a signal that Zuma does not know what he is doing etc. etc (They don't show much compassion for the dead, . .more of course - but that's another matter.) That Zuma might be drowning in his job is a v strong possibility. But this sort of thing is hardly proof, is it? In fact from, say, Vladimir Putin's perspective, this whole matter ended brilliantly, didn't it? The cops obediently shot down a bunch of trouble-making miners ... the heavy deadly hand of the state was displayed ... where's the lack of control or downside for Zuma? You guys should stop knee-jerking or just jerking generally and try thinking a little. . .less by Jeremy Gordin on August 20 2012, 08:12 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@John Austin And then there's the Chikurubi choo-choo with his complicated financial/conspiracy theories. You seem like a sweet guy John - but, in the immortal words of John Ball, you really need to get out more. by Jeremy Gordin on August 20 2012, 08:17 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Mike McWilliams Yes, I kept thinking Don't take a panga to a gunfight!! by jelry on August 20 2012, 08:22 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Marikana Well written, but then your articles usually are. I think the stupity and backwardness of those miners who charged the police is confirmed by the muti they are reputed to have paid for which was to have made them invincible. But even being very . .more stupid doesn't mean that one shouldn't be paid a living wage for the job you do. They should have left their weapons and 'war' attitude at home and they would have everyone's sympathy. . .less by jelry on August 20 2012, 08:27 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Jeremy Gordin, you have your own blog Tsamaya! by Brett on August 20 2012, 08:32 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

If ever you find yourself in the vicinity of a copy of the Constitution Domza on August 20 2012, 07:... I suggest you look at subsections (2) and (4) and (5) of S23. by Brett on August 20 2012, 08:35 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

What I saw I watched the e tv video, eyewitness news, reuters & aljazeera videos days ago. The latter only shown on e tv monday 6am news. The police had used rubber bullets and teargas until at least one shot was fired by a miner. Also notice how the police were . .more moving backwards rather than forward. It's unfortunate but I cannot say the police were to blame in this instance. There are a few videos on Youtube, also watch e tv news at 7pm today. . .less by Barbara on August 20 2012, 08:53 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

These were known gangsters, Brett These AMCU were known gangsters fresh from blood and mayhem just down the road at Implats. The Lonmin guys opened the door for them and let them in. Told the security at the gate that they were kosher. The Constitution does not say that . .more Lonmin must let gangsters in the door to kill and slaughter on the premises. Please, people, don't pretend. Lives have been lost and the protection of life in the future as in the past depends upon all of you not pretending that things are otherwise than what they are obviously are. . .less by Domza on August 20 2012, 08:59 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The Police Nyala on the cameras' right was flanked after it popped off teargas and those charging men would have enveloped it in seconds and wiped everyone out. The problem is what happened in the preceding week. by Brett on August 20 2012, 09:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Jelry et al! "I think the stupity and backwardness of" yr ilk who are no different from the miners!! Mariner 1 and @ are still in space after 35 odd years and have yet to encouter the person you pray to daily!! The big Sangoma called God. Every . .more Sunday you drink water from a Sangoma wearing a white collar! Whats the diffs! Since time immemorial millions have died for religion! So dont mock other peoples beliefs. Soldiers go to war wearing rosaries around their necks and yet they still perish in the name of the almighty!!! . .less by Qiniso on August 20 2012, 09:08 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Thank you, Barbara The police did not turn and run when the charge came, which would have ended up far worse than what happened. Nor did they freeze and do nothing, which would amount to the same. Nobody can be happy for loss of life. People should . .more remember that we are not yet out of this and we will unfortunately still need the police. What the Lonmin company has done is to behave in such a way as to create a mess and then drop the it in the lap of the state, hoping that we, state and police, will say they are "too big to fail" and bail them out and walk away leaving them free to perfume themselves. This Lonmin is a good case for nationalisation, not only because of the latest nonsense but also because of the atrocious mess they have made for people and for nature in the bushveld. Please see the Bench Marks "Policy Gap Report No. 6" that came out a few days ago and can be downloaded from their web site. . .less by Domza on August 20 2012, 09:11 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Royal Bafokeng So in all this pay disputes is some journo going to show what is also paid out to the Royal Bafokeng Nations Leaders who have all been very silent on deaths, pay etc!! by What else on August 20 2012, 09:19 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

a horrible tragedy Thanks for the meaningful article, RW. There is much more to it than meets the eye.I'd like to know where the dirt poor strikers got so many brandnew pangas.Someone supplied them. Who "imported" the sangoma from the Eastern Cape? This is the second . .more Eastern Cape sangoma tragedy in our deeply sad history.. . .less by Tess on August 20 2012, 09:44 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Perhaps Lonmin management take S2 of the Constitution seriously Domza on August 20 2012, 08:59 Or is it your argument that once again the ANC's barbaric faction fighting has taken South Africa to the brink but it 'is the Baas' fault because he should have protected us from ourselves despite what the Constitution says'? Tell me what . .more conspiracy theory you have for Lonmin sending NUM a memo that their representation had dropped under 50% - as required by law? Shitt stirring? . .less by Brett on August 20 2012, 09:47 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

NUM and AMCU Last night I heard an explanation by Prof Andries Bezuidenhout that AMCU was established some years ago when there was dissatisfaction in the coal mining sector as miners felt that NUM was too cozy with the mine owners/management. NUM expelled some of its . .more officials who spoke out against this situation, change some rules in their constitution to prevent some of these expellees (wow, I have waited for years to use this word) being elected into positions of leadership (so much for democracy and transparency he NUM?) and voila., the disgruntled miners started their own union, called AMCU. AMCU has since made big inroads into NUM membership, which of course cannot be tolerated indefinitely by the mafia which controls labour in Seffrica. A line had to be drawn. The Marikana massacre was staged to wipe out AMCU, just as Sharpeville was staged to wipe out the NATS. Sharpeville may have been a PR victory for the ANC but Marikana? --- I am not so sure. It definitely gave Juju a new lease of life, he is apparently far braver and popular than the man he once was prepared to kill for. Watch this space for further interesting developments. . .less by James Bell on August 20 2012, 10:01 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Houts, G****, and Bezuidenhouts Yes, this is the story we have all heard ad nauseam, Bell, but it is not helping shareholders or anybody else. If enough people start believing it, then there can be huge mayhem all over, and the whole mineral-energy complex of South Africa, which is . .more the economy of South Africa, can be destroyed. That will not happen because your Prof Bokdrol Bezuidenhout is actually blowing smoke. . .less by Domza on August 20 2012, 10:12 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Domza, you silly socialist, 1) I demand you withdraw your racist comment immediately! 2) What, shoring up South AFrica's market economy? Did the 3rd tier in the ANC hierachy not all but destroy our mining sector out of pique because they did not get the opportunity to join Tokyo and Cyril at the trough? Leaked mining charter ring a bell? . .more Just before a world-wide commodities boom? 3) Tell me quickly, is it not a class contradiction when unions charge members fees to belong to the union, which fees are channeled into multi-billion Rand investment capital funds? . .less by Brett on August 20 2012, 10:26 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Someone brought it to him After all these years, Jacob seems to have found his Mshini Wam, but surprisingly, it has been used to" Kill the Striker, Shoot the Miner" rather than the Boer. Who would have thought that a leaders enraged howl for violence would result in it being . .more visited upon his own people? Doesnt Karma bite you in the bum sometimes? . .less by Mike McWilliams on August 20 2012, 10:39 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The police were within their rights - the barbaic crown had to be stopped. Since when can people protest and be armed at the same time. Since when can people in any crowd assembly carry deadly weapons. Since when can people in a crowd with weapons advance on police. Since when can people in a . .more crowd hack policemen to death in the most barbarous manner. The police have only one option in this case. That is to act with extreme predujice and shoot the bastards. They had no other option. The blacks of South Africa need to learn that they can no longer form a crowd and then destroy, burn and kill to get what they want. We are all sick and tired if this barbaric behaviour. . .less by Thabo on August 20 2012, 11:04 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ John Austin As always - food for thought. by DM on August 20 2012, 11:10 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Lonmin massacre the result of major mismanagement by all concerned >>"The director of the South African Institute of Race Relations, John Kane-Berman immediately compared the event to the Sharpeville massacre in 1960." A better comparison will be the 10 June 1906 Mome Gorge massacre. The hysterical . .more British colonial government killed 3000 of its citizens that day. >>"I acknowledge that your conspiracy theory of asset accumulation has some persuasive merit but at the end of the day I tend to believe in coque-up theory and not conspiracy theory." The Lonmin massacre is clearly an instance of major mismanagement with far-reaching effects. "Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence" - Napoleon Bonaparte Or explained by stupidity, but don't rule out malice, some would add. Goethe's The Sorrows of Young Werther (1774): "...misunderstandings and neglect create more confusion in this world than trickery and malice. At any rate, the last two are certainly much less frequent." I am apprehensive about the commitment & competency of Lonmin and the SAPD. I have suspicious about the SACP and NDR. I am not convinced of the higher order ability of NUM or AMCWU regarding conflict management & resolution. Are union organizers trained and licensed? I am disturbed by the prejudice of Mr John Kane-Berman and question his insensitivity and the PR abilities of the SAIRR. . .less by TheDrake on August 20 2012, 11:12 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Jeremy Gordin The article above states. "The last time an NUM leader attempted to address the Marikana workers he was stoned and lost an eye." Did you have a look at that video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpSdoSH906g Even the camera man . .more was afraid and started to run for cover. . .less by Nasdaq7 on August 20 2012, 11:44 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Marikana The president is unjustifiably criticized for everything. I doubt if any other president would have prevented this from happening. A similar incident happened during Mandela's leadership of the ANC at Shell House around 1992/3. The bottom line is . .more that, our general public / communities and the unions in particular, should begin to act responsibly when they protest. Killing people and destruction of property cannot be tolerated by any government. Also, it's not fair to compare this incident and the Sharpville one as they are totally different. In Sharpville, the apartheid police shot at unarmed protesters. This time (we are told) the heavily-armed protesters were charging at police. Having killed two corps earlier in the week, the police couldn't take more chances! While the lost of life should always be deplored, I hope this sends a strong message to other protesters / unions! . .less by Nathi on August 20 2012, 11:56 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Sharpeville The Sharpeville incident was a clear case of self-defence. It just has been blown out of proportion and distorted by a vitriolic anti-White media. by Andreas Meyer on August 20 2012, 11:58 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Do you believe this, Drake? http://www.bdlive.co.za/opinion/2012/08/20/violence-a-relic-from-peoples-war-to-make-sa-ungovernable Violence a relic from people’s war to make SA ungovernable by John Kane-Berman, August 20 2012, 06:06 NUMEROUS types of . .more chickens are coming home to roost in South Africa. During their long campaign to win power by making the country ungovernable via a no-holds-barred "people’s war", the ruling alliance made up of the African National Congress (ANC), the South African Communist Party and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), injected into the bloodstream of the body politic a virus of violence that they cannot now eradicate. Whether to enforce strikes or bus or school boycotts, protest against "service delivery" failures, back some or other demand on campus, or complain against trains that are late, violence in South Africa has become routine, not unusual. Nonstrikers are murdered (60 of them in the security guards strike in 2006), city centres or university buildings trashed, roads blockaded or railway coaches set alight. People from other parts of Africa who undercut local traders are threatened or even murdered in so-called xenophobic violence. It is a tragic and bitter irony that all this is happening in a country that is second to none in constitutionally guaranteed and judicially protected democratic rights. The bitterest irony of all is how the virus of violence has corrupted parts of the trade union movement. During apartheid, when union officials were banned or detained without trial, and black unions frequently barred from factories by hostile employers, the emerging black union movement won its legal rights by a struggle that was essentially nonviolent. Now, with a privileged position, plus organisational and strike rights that are also second to none around the world, unions have become increasingly intolerant, as the Democratic Alliance experienced during its recent march on Cosatu House. Killing people in the context of inter-union rivalry at Lonmin is also a manifestation of a principle that the ruling alliance introduced during its people’s war, which was to eliminate rival political organisations as far as possible. One of the chickens that is now coming home to roost is that some of the rival factions within the ANC are now using violence — possibly even assassinations — against one another. Another of the chickens is the poor quality of the police. Their behaviour at Lonmin is but the most lethal manifestation of a wider lack of professional skill, including frequent inability to master the basics of crime scene investigation. Any intelligent leadership in the police force would have long ago foreseen the risks arising from our violent political culture. Proper training and equipment would long since have been provided to avoid precisely what happened at Lonmin. But, of course, the ANC has ensured that there is no proper leadership at the top of the police force. Instead, the police have become the plaything of rival factions in the ruling party, not to mention the victims of affirmative action and cadre deployment policies. So South Africa is in a catch-22. The people’s war was part of the strategy of the national democratic revolution to make the country ungovernable. Continued adherence to the strategy of the national democratic revolution in the form of cadre deployment in particular results in a police force that cannot handle the violence that continues as a hangover from the people’s war. One consequence of the ineptitude of the police is their inability to handle situations such as that at Lonmin without making things infinitely worse. Another is their inability to put a stop to the violence that now characterises so many demonstrations across the country. A third is their inability to secure prosecutions and convictions of violent demonstrators. Over all of this presides a president out of his depth as CE of the state. His ministers take unto themselves more and more power. Yet, apart from collecting taxes, his government fails increasingly to get the very basics right, top of which is providing law and order under the rule of law. His fondness for singing about his machine gun while the whole nation listens symbolises the very culture of violence that is helping to ruin this country. • Kane-Berman is CE of the South African Institute of Race Relations. . .less by Brett on August 20 2012, 11:59 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Jeremy Gordin Jeremy Gordin, So you are saying the police deliberately wanted to massacre 40 people? It seems in all likelihood, the police told them to drop their machetes and spears, they didn't, then they were dispersed by tear gass and rubber . .more bullets and then they ran into a crowd of policemen and surprised them. I doubt whether killing 40 miners was part of the plan - it would draw world wide attention, especially since reporters were present. If an armed group that had just hacked 2 police offers the day before to death with machetes and that killed 8 others during the week storms onto Jeremy Gordin I would love to see what he does. What would you do Jeremy Gordin? The strikers resisted arrest, they kept their weapons, they may have fired shots at the police - which will be determined by an investigation, the bottom line is they stormed onto police with spears and weapons. It is their own fault that 10 people died the week earlier and that they still pitched up with weapons the next day and ran onto police with those weapons. The law of the land is for everyone. Not listening to the police is their own fault. . .less by Nasdaq7 on August 20 2012, 12:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

If anything it was an accident "Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence" - Napoleon Bonaparte by Nasdaq7 on August 20 2012, 12:16 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

E video just uploaded to Youtube which I referred to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6guOlOFY7Q&feature=plcp by Barbara on August 20 2012, 12:52 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Domza, @Webmaster DomZa, thank you for your comments. It is clear that there is some (actually a lot) of misunderstanding on your part. Which of my statements should not be believed - please elucidate. @Webmaster. Please explain how Brett was . .more permitted to mpost a contribution that is clearly in excess of the maximum of 1500 characters normally allowed. This is not a criticism, just an enquiry. Thank you. . .less by James Bell on August 20 2012, 13:04 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@JG, @Plute..... .....your sometimes hard (Plute) and sometimes soft (JG) style of patronisingly putting down some of my contributions to POLITICSWEB is noted with interest. You should know that it will not change my drift, for I don't post my opinions to either make . .more friends or enemies, satisfy a paymaster, or help/hinder any political party. I post my comments in sincere honesty, fed by an incredibly eventful life in & within the most unlikely & at times terrifying of circumstances. These experiences have taught me first-hand that which is not written, including that which black Africa needs no reference and to which white Africa finds impossible to believe even when the facts stare them in the face. What I do know, is that the region is under criminal authority via Liberation PLC. All global indices point it out, & the (mostly white) rainbow huggers simply won't/don't see it. Folk ask where MUGABE/ZANU went wrong, overlooking their rainbow induced choice of not seeing him/them for what they were all along. You can believe what you like - but you'd be wise to let the facts speak for themselves.... and to listen. The futures of you & yours depend on it, ne ? Chikurubi-Diasporan :) . .less by John Austin on August 20 2012, 13:08 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@TheDrake Just wondering if ThePontiff wouldn't be a more appropriate pen name for you? by Questor on August 20 2012, 13:08 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

How much have Lonminn/Royal Bafokeng paid to the original Brown owners of the land? The Bafokeng were a migratory tribe, who had only been there for less than a century themselves, and had driven off the original San Bushmen. by Lyndall Beddy on August 20 2012, 13:22 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Yo, Bell I also noticed that Brett was miraculously able to post an entire article. But then I thought, what an appropriate measure of both of the heroes of the right: Kane-Berman reduced to a mere Comment; Johnson needing to be rescued by Kane-Berman in . .more full. I am not going to tell you what to believe, Bell. That's a waste of time. But I do not believe you, or your Professor. A union is made up of members. As much as Bezuidenhout and his ilk would want to persuade people otherwise, unions are not businesses. They are combinations of working men and women. Whispering campaigns against any particular union of the Bezuidenhout kind are nothing else than a disguised attack on trade unions in general. But business will not be better off without trade unions. After the pickets were shot down at Carletonville in 1973, the Chamber of Mines gradually became persuaded that negotiating with firearms was not going to be good for business. Both workers and employers need there to be a good strong union. That union is the NUM. It is a very fine organisation that the whole country can be proud of. Marikana can help us all to come to that realisation again that we all need the NUM to be there, and to persuade people who should know better to stop trying to get clever with the organised working class. . .less by Domza on August 20 2012, 13:37 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@James-BELL.... ....there is a work-around..... but this not the place to explain it. Can you imagine 4500 words by the Mute, the Camel, Dot, ensovoerts.... eeeek. Chikurubi-Geek :) p.s. amazing tertiary education opportunities @ the Chikurubi . .more Akadamie, ne ? . .less by John Austin on August 20 2012, 13:55 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

NDR What is the role of the NDR in all this? I have a feeling they orchestrated it, using sangomas and muti, barbaric methods and exploitation of vulnerable and desperate people, inciting them to demand a 300% rise. Evil is at work. by Tess on August 20 2012, 14:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Domza Seffrica still has religious freedom so you can believe or disbelieve whatever you want. I am just reporting what I heard, a discussion on RSG which as you probably know is under ANC control. The Prof was from Wits university and part of a Task team. He . .more sounded quite knowledgeable and quoted many dates and names. When I attended a senior management course at UP way back in 1989 we were taught that nobody can prescribe which union a worker should belong to. As far as I know workers have the same rights as citizens namely freedom of choice. If they are not happy with NUM and want to start another trade union they have the right to do so. Anyway, we also have Solidarity, which used to be the Mine Workers Union. They are also involved at Marikana but in a much much more responsible and civilized way. It appears from your comments that you promote the idea that NUM should have a monopoly on worker representation. I respect your opinion but do not agree with it. As an interesting aside I once was my employers point man in negotiating with the union when we had a strike. I resolved it within three days, there was no bloodshed. The strike leader later became a Minister in one of the provincial governments. . .less by James Bell on August 20 2012, 15:08 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

LOLOL @ Dom's deflections.... Explain the class contradictions? Want me to post Friday's Bus Day Editorial singing NUM's praises next? by Brett on August 20 2012, 15:26 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

What I saw is that a lot of people were sitting on a barren koppie until the police tried to dislodge them with teargas and provocation. Why? Why not let them sit there and bake in the sun? Was taking the koppie some kind of Majuba war tactic? by Vusi on August 20 2012, 15:48 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Monopoly, schmopoly There is nothing about monopoly in union business. There is one lot of workers, that's all. Two unions are not better than one. It is not good to have a white union and call it "civilized" as you do. It is not good to bring in a bunch of gangsters . .more and pretend they are a union, so that you can bust the genuine union. "Rights" do not run a business, and they do not get you a union, either. So long as you are still talking rights you are not dealing with life. Life does not run on rails called "constitution". . .less by Domza on August 20 2012, 15:53 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Agree with you 100% Vusi If it was really necessary why not lay razorwire everwhere and besiege the koppie? 34 Bodies to make a point? by Brett on August 20 2012, 16:12 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Domza. I'm confused now Is the "genuine union" the one which had its praises sung bu Business Day? Isn't that a class contradiction? by Brett on August 20 2012, 16:14 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Domza Calm down, take a deep breath. I am afraid you have become incoherent. Let us start at the beginning. What is the purpose of a trade union, how did trade unions start, how should they operate, what can members do if the trade union leaders are . .more perceived to have forsaken their duty to the workers? You state that "rights" have nothing to do with life? What about the claim of a right to a living wage, the right to strike, the right to vote, the right to free association? Why are you getting so worked up or are you just confused? . .less by James Bell on August 20 2012, 16:21 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Yo, Brett Thanks for pointing out that editorial. A mixed masala but indicative that there are a few people on the bourgeois side who have not yet gone nuts. Here's a bone for you: the word "union". It means union, not division. Please take that away . .more and chew on it. . .less by Domza on August 20 2012, 16:23 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Monopolising.... .....POWER, is what it is all about (& the enabling politics). The MDC Leader, Morgan TSVANGERAYI, whilst still in bed with ZANU could do no wrong & his union business went happily along a parallel path that didn't interfere with ZANU & real . .more power in ZIM. A convergence of differing agendae will guarantee violence & blood in Africa, when the political Alpha-Males feel their positions threatened. In ZIM, all manner of ZANUfronted "unions" sprung up to challenge Tsvangireyi & the legitimate unions, leading to MDC & the rest of recent Zim history. The same script is re-playing in the ANCpf scrabble to maintain & impose their version of absolute power in SA. This was no spontaneous foul-up gone sour. It is all quite deliberately contrived & executed. Those behind it know exactly what they are doing & to what end. Those ends have absolutely nothing to do with the rights of the cannon fodder being fed into the equation... ...they are merely useful collateral damage to demonstrate that the architects mean business. Putting political, rhetorical, racist, argument aside, African power politics is awash with repeating examples of achieving its ends in blood - usually AFRICAN BLOOD. WHY ? Because it is cheap, plentiful, expendable, ne ! Whilst African Leadership Collectives continue in such mindset, nothing will change. . .less by John Austin on August 20 2012, 16:26 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Massacre An interesting and useful insight by RWJ. Sadly, that is a lot more than can be said about many of the largely mindless comments above. I believe it is totally credible that these miners were merely pawns in a much higher powered battle involving Cosatu . .more and the ANC. . .less by JADe on August 20 2012, 16:39 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

democracy ? Seems to me some union members, such as Domza, cannot stand different opinions, or that any mine workers might prefer other organisations. Call them unions, organisations, or whatever. So where is democracy, Domza? All should agree with you, or face death? by Tess on August 20 2012, 16:43 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ Brett on August 20 2012, 11:59 >>"Do you believe this, Drake?" Thanks for sharing. I will not be surprised if the author is in fact Dr Anthea Jefferey, a respected SAIRR employee and author of The Truth About The Truth Commission. It is strange that he . .more acknowledge that the white led government and SAP at the time had to deal with a war of intimidation/manipulation and violence euphemistically called the "peoples war" that the SACP?ANC unleashed on all of us to secure their position as the leading "liberation movement." According to the SAP submission to the TRC, that was ignored by the TRC investigators, the ANC was responsible for 80500 incidents of violence over 8 years - they killed 9200 people and injured 18000 and all this is ad populum attributed by the media to the IFP and SAP. I wonder when we can expect an analyses from the SAIRR about the origin, progress, implications and the natural outcomes of the seditious/racist NDR. I think it is important to realize that the SAPS is in fact the COSATU affiliated POPCRU and therefore the NUM/ANC in uniform. I am not in the least surprised that AMCWU viewed the SAPS as their enemy and not as a professional and independent law enforcement agency. They clearly thought it prudent to arm themselves as best as they could. I pity the thousands of victims of leftist propaganda & SACP?ANC with all my heart. . .less by TheDrake on August 20 2012, 17:33 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Hi Tess You a member of any democratic organisations? Do you know anything about democracy at all? by Domza on August 20 2012, 17:36 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ Domza on August 20 2012, 17:36 >>"Hi Tess. You a member of any democratic organisations? Do you know anything about democracy at all?" I was thinking of asking you the very same question when you said on August 20 2012, 15:53 that "there is nothing about monopoly in union . .more business. There is one lot of workers, that's all. Two unions are not better than one." But then I realized that you most probably firmly believe that the so-called National "Democratic" Revolution has something to do with "democracy" and that a communist one party "democracy" is not a one-party dictature but rather the "progressive cure" for all our economic woes including all labour disputes. Please correct me if I am wrong. . .less by TheDrake on August 20 2012, 18:40 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

O.k., Drake and Tess: Democracy Here is how it works: The majority rules. Here is how it doesn't work: The majority decides, and the minority walks out. Scenario B above is the Cope scenario. You should know by now that although it is done amid cries of . .more "democracy", B has nothing to do with democracy. It is the end of democracy if the minority refuses to go along with the majority. You are correct if you say that the Copistas or any other minority have the "right" under the Constitution to do this, but that does not make it right in any other sense, and it certainly does not make it into democracy. Constitution or not, if the minority is going to walk out every time there is division, then there can't be a democracy. The State can compel people, but we cannot. All of the huge mass democratic organisations of the National Democratic Revolutionary Alliance were made in a voluntary way. You have recently discovered this in relation to the NUM and you think you can come along like Pied Pipers and drain the democracy out of it. But for us who know what democracy is, it is no surprise to find that people can walk away if they choose. For us, it has been reality for the whole time, back to 1994, 1990, 1960, 1950, and back a hundred years and more. Democracy is not like shopping. It's more difficult than that. . .less by Domza on August 20 2012, 18:58 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ Domza on August 20 2012, 18:58 >>"Democracy is not like shopping. It's more difficult than that." You get that one right. Democracy is much more than mere majority rule and it is definitely not a one-party dictature by a so-called broad church "liberation movement" . .more that shamelessly intimidate all and sundry as they pleases. Moreover, please explain why our "democracy" makes provision for the hegemony of monarchs, traditional leaders over subjects and self-determination in their own areas? Please explain the need for thee Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act in a democracy. Where is the country heading with the racist communist drivers of the NDR that ploy and manipulate everything with semantics and obfuscations plus pan-Africanists, aggressive labour unionists and tribalists fighting till death without any reservations or respect for human lives for control over everything? You are spoiling everything for everybody and should be ashamed for all the mayhem and suffering on your watch. The peace of 1994 gave all of us an opportunity to create a culture of human rights, a better life for all and self-respect in an open opportunity multi-party democracy – rethink your options in an responsible and respectable manner and above all stop your unacceptable behaviour. You cannot manipulate those that live freedom & constitutional democracy. . .less by TheDrake on August 20 2012, 20:31 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Now, is there anything you do not understand, Twitty? 2. Supremacy of Constitution This Constitution is the supreme law of the Republic; law or conduct inconsistent with it is invalid, and the obligations imposed by it must be fulfilled. 23. Labour relations (2) . .more Every worker has the right- (a) to form and join a trade union; (b) to participate in the activities and programmes of a trade union; (4) Every trade union and every employers' organisation has the right- (a) to determine its own administration, programmes and activities; (b) to organise; and (c) to form and join a federation. . .less by Brett on August 20 2012, 21:18 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The Minority Union is not in Cosatu and therefore not in the ANC Alliance THAT is what it is all about, and I agree with Vusi - why did they not just leave them on the koppie? by Lyndall Beddy on August 20 2012, 21:37 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

It's about unity and democracy, democracy and unity Lyndall, the so-called AMCU is formed by people who walked away from the NUM's democracy. Same thing with Cope. They walked away from the ANC's democracy. So did the PAC, UDM, even IFP. These branches cannot get far from the tree . .more and they can't successfully root and grow. The tree seems hurt at first but it continues to grow. To the extent that they survive, the detached branches do so in a relation to the Alliance. Really they are all still parts of the Alliance. So I think what you find attractive about AMCU is not that it is "not in COSATU" as you want to put it, because actually it is nothing else than a part of COSATU. What attracts to AMCU you is that it represents a damage to COSATU's democracy. It's the same thing that one sees in the glee that is expressed in other places at the alleged but probably imaginary loss of membership by NUM. It is the unity of the workers that you don't like. As for "Why didn't they leave 'them' on the koppie?", one reason is that 'they' were taking people up there, probably torturing them, killing them and leaving their bodies in the veld. Why have you forgotten so quickly? It's because you want to love the AMCU, and you only want to love it because you think its existence will hurt the unity and the democracy of the NUM. . .less by Domza on August 20 2012, 22:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Are we on the verge of civil war Mr Johnson, You opinion is so observed that i dont understand why you are not on TV other than the C*** analysis we are getting in the Happy news TV called SABC now recently the ETV and this little paper in Free state called The Weekly. I recently read . .more the New Age of the 1959 and get sad to read the Age of the JZ era. We have to accept that this matter must go to International Criminal Court, this is massacre, well because its Lonmin en the strange ICC rules i doubt it will end there. . .less by Mosebetsi on August 20 2012, 22:22 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

power games The more I read, the uglier this gets. People have been killed and it seems power struggle between unions and their relation to the ruling party is deeply rooted in it all, with no consideration whatsoever to the cost of their power games. The vehemence . .more on these pages is equally tragic, especially in a time like this. Can anyone blame international investors and commentators their opinion of Africa? Seffrica should hang her head in shame. . .less by Tess on August 20 2012, 22:27 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Back to the Future Do "people" that sit on koppies being doctored with "Sangoma" muti and still believe in it's efficacy to stop bullets have any place in a modern technologically advanced mining operation ? Do mine owners that are prepared to employ such "people" . .more in such a modern technologically advanced mining operation have any right to call themselves entrepreneurial ( or in fact anything but exploitative) ? Are South African platinum mines like South African gold mines where raw brute force labor is more advantageous to the bottom line than modern highly efficient MACHINERY ? South Africa where the worst of Capitalism and the worst of Socialism combine to make a happy playground for social scientists ! . .less by Bibliophile on August 21 2012, 08:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Various Domza is really rattled. His passionate defense of NUM and the socalled unity vis-a-vis the rogue union AMCU is indicative that NUM and COSATU are extremely concerned, as they shoud be. COSATU are in alliance with the ANC and have extracted huge benefits . .more in the form of Labor related legislation that entrenched their stranglehold on black labour. The downside to all of this is our huge unemployment which will just not go away. There are other downsides as well. Low investor confidence, a non-functioning education system, dismal failures everywhere, corruption and nepotism. These factors are causing loss of confidence and support for the ANC among the voters and straining the relationship within the alliance. On top of that COSATU are continuously challenging the ANC as to who is actually really running the show. No wonder there is always conflict. Meanwhile the SACP sits on the sidelines biding its time. The DA believes it can take over the government if it only can convince enough blacks to vote for them, after all the constitution will protect us all, wont it? I don't believe it for one second. I voted yes in the referendum but today I regret it deeply. . .less by James Bell on August 21 2012, 09:01 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Comparison of Kane-Berman with Sharpeville inappropriate insofar as... in the case of Sharpeville the police were not angry, wore no bullet proof vests, and shot because they thought they heard such a command. They were also encicled and feared the angry crowd. Marikana was a wilful massacre by angry policemen who wanted to . .more take revenge. The police commissioner should step back for she obviously has no control over the police. The minister of police should also resign from office. He has failed dismally. What a disgusting incident. . .less by Cold Fire on August 21 2012, 09:26 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Bibliophile Every Sunday people go to big halls(churches) to be given muti by a strange Sangoma wearing a white collar! Monies(the root of all evil) are even collected and one of the biggest Sangomas sits over a bank, called the Vatican Bank. There is a NASA . .more probe that has completed 35 years in space and it takes 16hrs for the radio signal to reach earth. The probe has yet to encounter the almighty and evidence thereof. So many soldiers went to war with Rosaries around their necks and believing that their makhulu Sangoma will spare their lives. In soccer pitches teams pray and the Sangoma decides on who has prayed better and answer their prayers with a win?? Duh!! Do not mock and belittle other peoples beliefs!! Maybe they should have rather prayed and the angels would have been their bullet proof vests???? . .less by Qiniso on August 21 2012, 09:47 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Gullible Humans are quite a foolish bunch -- easily programmed. Referring to the organized church / religion and the farce called the papacy in the same breath as "sangoma's" is quite apt. but Please do not bundle the scientists and engineer's who made . .more "curiosity" a reality in with your imponderables. A number of people at Marikana have set out on that great journey that will answer the question of the Almighty -- they will not be coming back to tell anyone ( unless of course you are an animist and believe in the ancestors ? ) Personally I put faith in a few well placed shots from a Martini-Henry ! BTW; Qiniso Ask any Zulu what he thinks of a Pondo ? . .less by Bibliophile on August 21 2012, 10:23 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Bibliophile Im not bundling scientist! Yesterday marked 35years since Voyager 2 was launched and it still communicating with us and has not found/encountered any semblance of a holy spirit. She is at the outer edges of our Solar System. So im not referring to . .more 'Curiosity'. There is no such a thing as Zulu or Pondo but a creation of colonialists. If you know the distinction, please educate me. I suggest you google " Myth of Iron: Shaka in History [Dan Wylie]" Neither has anybody came back from the so called "heaven or hell" to give us feedback!! Stop patronising our history!! . .less by Qiniso on August 21 2012, 10:59 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Deconstruction "SHE" is within us -- not in some limited and constrained man made communication system. IF you refer to the Mfengu -- yes then you can talk about the creation of colonialists -- but only because they had the raw material to work with -- that . .more came from where ? Zulu / Pondo are NOT the creation of colonialists -- but the indigenous way in which these peoples came to be known to themselves. I am sure a Zulu person knows the whole lineage all the way from Malandela ( and before ) http://www.zulu-culture.co.za/zulu_history.php http://www.kznnorthhappenings.co.za/history_zulu_nation.htm BTW; My copy of "Myth of Iron" was personally signed by the author ! I am not patronizing anything -- just Qiniso .......... . .less by Bibliophile on August 21 2012, 11:27 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Qiniso..... .....I think I know who Bibliophile is, but I'm not saying. So, moving on, when I read your comment:- "There is no such a thing as Zulu or Pondo but a creation of colonialists. If you know the distinction, please educate me. I suggest . .more you google " Myth of Iron: Shaka in History [Dan Wylie]" " ....I thought to myself:- "Now here is offered a gauntlet that won't be ignored". And I wasn't disappointed either. The point is though, are you going to quit whilst you're behind, Qiniso, or will you just keep on digging ? Chikurubi-Zizo-reVanhu :O . .less by John Austin on August 21 2012, 13:03 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Domzaaaaaa…........... It is quite clear that your understanding of “democracy” has the same depth as that of Robert Mugabe.......... (!!) by dhs on August 21 2012, 22:08 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

marikana massacre Really we should actually look and not take a side on this incident, that happened in marikana. Police were left with no option but to shoot, I saw the footage of Amaberethe really some of their behaviour its really unconstitutional. But . .more referring to Marikana massacre really they were left with no option but to apply self-defense, I am not saying people must just be killed. . .less by lebogang on August 22 2012, 11:01 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The Fingo(Mfengu) were slaves of the Xhosa They have all fudged their history - Bishop Tutu, Moeletsi and Thabo Mbeki et al. They were called Fingo because the tip of the finger was cut off to mark them as slaves - which is WHY they ran away to the whites! by Lyndall Beddy on August 24 2012, 12:39 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Sharpeviile The clear orchestration to attack and commit murder on members of the SA police by communist agent provocateur rioters happened immediately after the African continental visit and "Kill the Boer" look alike dancing U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Muslim . .more Outreach Clinton. 2. Sec. Clinton and Pres. Obama are in a political struggle which is why Clinton declined the offer of Obama's vice president just recently Obama is with Attorney General of Justice Eric Holder involved in the Fast & Furious gun scandal and Obama himself has forged his birth certificate, social security number, University papers etc. Frank Marshall Davis is probably the biological father of Obama and Davis FBI case contains a lot of salient dirt. 3. Hillary Clinton has insinuated - during her transit visit to the presidential reelection race of Obama - many African governments, the Clinton’s policy of 'cooperation' with the Muslim Brotherhood (islam oil) under the guise of a joint battle of the AU and the US against Al Shabaab, Ansar Dine, MUJOA, Al-Qaeda (AQIM), Boko Haram, the search for Koni etc. cntd . .less by Theo Prinse on September 15 2012, 10:54 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Sharpeville cntd 4. The Muslim Outreach policy of the Clinton’s is a secret collaboration with the neo conservatives like Richard Perle, Paul Wolfowitz, John McCain, Zbigniew Brzezinski etc to help insinuate the Islamic fundamentalists into power and oppress the . .more western-oriented population in the Islamic world in exchange for Saudi Islam-oil and in return for arms deals. 5. The CIA prepares for such state visits like Clinton months before and the CIA was in Central Africa (Koni and Congo) since February. 6. The Marikana provocative attempt to commit murders on the site of the Lonmin mine by the rioters is ALSO well organized months before. 7. Julius Malema visited at the expense of businessmen London during the 'Olympic' games ?? and comes on behalf of British business interests fight a political struggle on the Lonmin Marikana mine against Jacob Zuma, who promised Clinton political and economical support days earlier . 8. So the South African police deserve our 100 percent support and the Sharpeville myth after Marikana provocation has become nil and void. . .less by Theo Prinse on September 15 2012, 10:54 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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