By Obakeng Maje
Rustenburg- Different Mines in the Rustenburg Platinum Belt will begin their legally protected strike on Thursday. 

“As a legal strike it is upon organisers and it is their responsibility to ensure that their strike is peaceful and they adhere to the picketing rules.  Members of the South African Police Service, Public Order Policing will be deployed to ensure peace and security of both, the striking mine workers and the general public” brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.

Ngubane said some of the picketing rules are that striking mine workers should not interfere with public order and no destruction of property, or intimidation of those who will be going to work or going about their normal daily business.

“As the South African Police Service, we have the responsibility to ensure that the laws of the Republic are enforced where there is disregard. Safety and Security is a shared responsibility and the North West Provincial Commissioner; Zukiswa Mbombo, calls upon all parties to play their part in managing the strike” she said.

“The mine management has a duty to ensure that within the confines of their private property jurisdiction, they provide adequate security for those who will be on duty. Union AMCU organisers has the duty of making sure that their strike is peaceful, respect the rule of law, authority and she further said the South African Police Service will monitor the strike and ensure compliance with the law” concludes Ngubane.

Police will be deployed to ensure peace and security but the strike remains a labour matter and the South African Police Service would like to urge all participants and striking miners to respect authority and the rule of law as they exercise their democratic right. 

The cautionary measures that have been taken is that no dangerous weapons will be allowed at the during the gathering of the strikers.  The Dangerous Weapons Act No 15 of 2013 which has came into effect on the 02 January 2014 will be applicable.

“The Act defines dangerous weapons as any object other than a firearm, capable of causing death or inflict serious bodily harm, if it were used for any unlawful purpose. These weapons amongst others include homemade weapons, spears, pangas and etc” he said.

The Mine Crime Combating Forum is already active to ensure proper co-ordination of all activities of the strike and to bring all relevant stakeholders on board.-TDN
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