onmin lays down an ultimatum for South African miners on strike

After 34 miners were killed by police on August 16, tensions are running high at Lonmin’s Marikana platinum mine. The miners were killed when a group of them allegedly rushed at police with machetes and clubs. The police fired multiple rounds into the crown, killing 34 people and leaving over 90 injured. The tragedy has left an air of sadness around the mine site where workers continue to strike, holding out for higher wages. Their strike, however, may be over sooner than they expected. Lonmin has released a statement saying that the 3,000 strikers are on strike illegally and will be expected at work on Monday or else they risk being laid off. This ultimatum applies only to the striking rock drill operators and the assistant rock drill operators who began their action on August 10. Lonmin has also reached out to the families of all the workers who lost their lives last Thursday, making available a help desk at Lonmin’s Andrew Saffy Hospital. In a company statement released on Sunday they said, “Lonmin commits to provide funding for education of all the children of employees who lost their lives. This funding will cover education costs for primary school to university.” The ongoing violence has been a result of two warring labour unions. The situation has been described by the BBC as a sort of turf war between the two unions. Lonmin has been in contact with the rest of the work force who, while not on strike, have been unable to work due to the unsafe environment at the work site. Lonmin has informed these workers that police believe it is safe now for them to return to work. However they are only expected to attend the morning shift for now and have been given contact numbers to report any intimidation. Some miners said the new ultimatum was an insult to their dead colleagues. South African president Jacob Zuma, on Sunday, declared a national week of mourning and said flags will fly at half mast at all flag stations in South African and missions outside the country during mourning period.