Mineworkers union, National Union of Mineworkers (Num) says its members will stay away from work for their own safety if rival union, Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) carries out its threat on strike.

Amcu is expected to serve Lonmin Platinum Mine in Rustenburg on Tuesday with a 48-hour notice that it plans to embark on a protected strike which will start on Saturday.

Num and Amcu have been at loggerheads over the ”recognition” issue. A Num shop steward was shot and killed at the mine last week.

Amcu members have voted to strike despite Lonmins application for arbitration which is expected to take place later this month.

Amcu demands to be declared the majority union and wants NUM offices to be closed at the mine.

Num spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka says Lonmin will have to guarantee its members’ safety if it wants them to go to work.

“We have persuaded management that if it wants anyone to be at work, it will have to provide adequate security. In the absence of that security, we are unable to guarantee anyone that there will be any workers coming to work because many workers fear for their own safety,” says Seshoka.

He says that many people lost their lives during strikes in the past while on their way to work.
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