Johannesburg – Thousands of defiant workers marched on the crippled Lonmin mine on Wednesday, refusing to end a deadly strike and threatening to make the platinum giant’s mine “ungovernable”.

Armoured police trucks and two police helicopters kept watch as around 3 000 miners, carrying sticks and chanting, marched to a shaft owned by the world’s number three platinum producer where a wildcat action is in its fourth week.

“We told them if they don’t close the mine shafts we will make them ungovernable,” a worker leader told strikers after the group had re-gathered near where police shot 34 people last month.

“The management is trying to divide us and coaxing some of you to go to work. Remember people died as a result of the struggle and at the end of the day your boss does not stay with you.”

Earlier, marchers took to the streets to demand that the company bow to their wage demands. One placard stating “Lonmin must decide to give us money or close”.

The show of defiance came as a fresh round of mediated talks kicked off to try to broker a breakthrough in the stalemate, as Lonmin warning that an indefinite strike will put 40 000 jobs at risk.

Mine manager Jan Thirion said worker representatives had threatened that “if we don’t leave here at one o’clock (11h00 GMT) they will come and burn down the shaft, burn down cars and kill us”.

“We want to talk peace, they want to talk war,” he told reporters after speaking to the representatives through a fence under high security.

But workers dispersed peacefully after their deadline passed, singing “(President Jacob) Zuma is a fool, we are ruled by stupid people” as they headed back to where police had opened fire on August 16, killing their colleagues.

Some carried a picture of a dead miner who is to be buried this weekend. There was shock at his death as he had left the site with only a bullet wound in the leg.

“We believe police finished him,” said worker representative Xolani Mzuzu.

“We consider him a hero like Chris Hani,” Mzuzu added, referring to the anti-apartheid icon gunned down a year before South Africa headed into democracy.

The deadly police volley against the miners on August 16 shocked the world with its echoes of apartheid-era police brutality.

The police shootings brought the death toll to 44 after escalating from a wildcat strike in which 10 people, including two police officers, had already been killed.

The dispute has become a battleground for rival political and labour factions and sparked fears of a spillover of unrest into the key mining sector.

London-listed Lonmin, whose shares dropped on Wednesday, reported 4.2 percent attendance across all its shafts but was hopeful of an outcome in the latest talks.

“We are willing to negotiate wages, in the right manner,” it said.

“Violence and intimidation have no place in bargaining. We are working hard to reach agreement with all parties through the peace talks. All of us must condemn violence.”

Workers are insisting on R12 500 per month. – AFP

By Obakeng Maje

The representation of female senior managers in the public service still need much attention considering the fact that men continue to dominate senior positions, says North West Premier, Thandi Modise.

Speaking at the Public Service Women Management Meeting held at Mahikeng Hotel School on Tuesday, Premier Modise noted the worrying picture of female representation in the public service.

She encouraged women who are already senior managers in the public service to play their role in increasing the number of senior managers at their workplace.

“We really need women to gather in this nature regularly so that the intention of promoting gender equality in the public service is driven by women themselves.

Regularly when you meet like this, it is your responsibility to mentor, nature and come up with programmes that will assists other women who want to lead in the public service,” Premier Modise said at the meeting attended by senior managers across all the provincial departments.

She told women that government is trying its best to provide support mechanisms to empower women to be in senior positions.

Modise added that women must be senior managers in all field including in the finances so that they continue to overcome many barriers such as lack of access to finance and technology.

 Premier Modise told women senior managers that gender equality should not be viewed simply as a compliance issue to pacify the Employment Equity Commission.

“Gender equality is a fundamental principle of democracy and human rights. Women must not sit in senior positions in government and not influence the decisions taken at that level,” she added.

Premier Modise warned those women senior managers in the public service who use their position to block other competent women to progress.

“As a women manager at your work, you should be able to empower other women rather than blocking them to progress.

You will not earn your respect if you do not embrace other women by empowering them, ”she cited.

In 2007, the Head of the departments (HoD’s) 8-Principle Plan of Action for Promoting Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality within the Public Service Workplace was launched.

The meeting was part of the plan intended to enhance women’s empowerment and equality in the public service.

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By SAPS

Rustenburg- The Police are monitoring a INTIMIDATION CASE YET TO BE OPENED AGAINST EASTERN PLATINUM MINE WORKERS

On Tuesday, 4 September 2012, at about 09:00, a group of 200 mineworkers gathered at the Eastern Platinum Mine, Shaft 30 gates.

A delegation of four mineworkers representing the group went to the mine management at shaft number 30.

The group of four met at the shaft gate with a mine representative where the team of four instructed them to close down the shaft.

It is reported that they said if the manager does not adhere to the instruction, they will return the following day, 5 September to kill them.

They then  went back and rejoined the group at shaft 30 and later dispersed peacefully.

“The group moved towards shaft number 01 under police guard, they then moved back to their residential area at hostels next to shaft number 30” Captain Ngubane said.

At this stage no case of violence, damage to property and intimidation was reported to the police. It is also confirmed that no case of intimidation against the group of four that has been opened at Bethani police station by the Eastern Platinum Mine manager at this moment. Police are constantly monitoring the situation at the mine.

By Obakeng Maje

Potchefstroom Police together with members of Crime Intelligence arrested a Nigerian suspect (aged 29) today, 4 September 2012, at about 09:00 for allegedly dealing in drugs.

Cocaine, LSD, Ecstasy, Mandrax, Tik and Rock cocaine to the value of R41 850.00, were confiscated by Police at a residential home on the Bult, Potchefstroom.

“The suspect were also arrested for dealing in drugs during operation Dinky Toy on 27 July 2012, and was released on bail” Captain Ngubane said.

The police were doing a routine search, when the drugs were discovered hidden in the suspect’s house.

A case of dealing in drugs are being investigated and the suspect is expected to appear before Potchefstroom Magistrates’ Court soon.

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By Obakeng Maje

Potchefstroom- K9 Unit arrested two Somalians today at about 10:30 for allegedly manufacturing airtime vouchers without a permit.

It is alleged that the two suspects, both aged 28 years were manufacturing and printing Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Telkom vouchers in a backroom of their supermarket.

The supermarket is situated in Walter Sizulu Street, Potchefstroom.

“Police received a tip off from community members about airtime vouchers that were sold in the supermarket without a permit” Captain Ngubane said.

Police went to investigate and discovered the vouchers and unknown amount of money as it was still being counted before going to press.

Computer equipment and a printer were seized by Police.

A case of fraud has been registered at Potchefstroom Police Station and investigations continue.

“The suspects are expected to appear before Potchefstroom Magistrates’ Court soon” Ngubane said.

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By Obakeng Maje

Vryburg- Police arrested a farmer and his son after they allegedly choked one farm worker to death and badly assaulted the other one.

This gruesome event took place at Cremontan farm in Boshoek, near Morokweng.

“The farmer,69 and his son,33 will appear at Vryburg Magistrate Court tomorrow for murder,assault,attempted murder and point of a fire-arm after they allegedly accused their two farmer workers of stealing two tyres and 25 litres of diesel”Captain Ngubane said.

According to the survivor of the incident, theiR farmer called them to the store room after accusing them of stealing two tyres and 25 litre of diesel.

They allegedly tied them with a chain and assaulted them. When the farmer and his son see that the two are not budging, they electrocuted them with car booster cable.

“Unidentified man was certified death on his arrival at Piet Plessies clinic after taken there by his alleged killer who in turn tried to cover his tracks by promising a 20 year victim R1500 to keep quite” Ngubane said.

The victim did not fall in his trap and tells the Police exactly what transpired.

A farmer was left hapless after his skeletons came out of the closet like confuse dinasours fleeing Juriseen Park.

A 69 year old farmer sold the Police a dummy by telling them a dead man allegedly fainted after he had way too much of excitement from the brown bottles.

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