DA to call for urgent joint committee meeting on growing tensions at mines in SA

As tensions continue to mount at mines across South Africa's gold and platinum mining sectors, the ANC government seems to have no plan to prevent another Marikana tragedy from taking place. The government's lack of a plan to address this matter - which was evident at last week's post-cabinet briefing - could lead to the unravelling of an already heightened situation. The responsible members of President Jacob Zuma's cabinet must urgently brief South Africans on how they intend to ensure that the growing number of wildcat strikes at mines across South Africa will not lead to further violence and unrest.

The situation at a number of mines across South Africa remains tense, on the back on the Marikana Tragedy: 

Anglo American Platinum continues to experience a strike at five shafts. Today thousands have gathered at the Bleskop bearing sticks and knockberries.

9000 workers are striking at Gold Fields in a wildcat strike. They are demanding  monthly salaries of R16000

AngloGold Ashanti is experiencing a wildcat strike involving 5000 people at its Kopnanang mine

The DA Shadow Ministers of Labour, Police and Mineral Resources will today petition the chairpersons of their respective Portfolio Committees in Parliament to call an urgent joint meeting to consider the on-going tensions in the mining industry. In addition, they will also call for the joint committees to summon the relevant ministers, mine management and trade union leaders to provide them with an urgent update about the situation on the ground. 

I will write to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Max Sisulu, to request their support for an urgent joint committee meeting of these committees during the current constituency period.

Not only do the growing number of mining sector strikes place the lives of thousands of workers at risk - as was witnessed at Lonmin over the past two months - but they also threaten investment in the mining industry, which if lost, will cost thousands of working South Africans their jobs and livelihoods.

The ongoing crisis in the mining industry highlights the need for Parliament to assert its oversight role over the Executive. The government has a responsibility to create the conditions necessary to get our mining sector back to work, so that it can contribute to a productive, growing economy, and to South Africa's prosperity.

Statement issued by Lindiwe Mazibuko MP DA Parliamentary Leader, September 26 2012

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