Pretoria – A large police contingent has been deployed to monitor the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) march in Pretoria on Thursday.

Police vans and Nyalas were stationed at Marabastad where union members gathered for the march to the Union Buildings.

Union marshals were on hand to stop members leaving the assembly venue, forming a human chain around Amcu members.

“Comrades, order, stay within this circle,” commanded a marshal walking around hundreds of marchers.

“Comrade, where are you going? The march starts now,” shouted one marshal to three men leaving the assembly point.

Amcu was to march to the Union Buildings to hand over a petition raising its unhappiness about how government departments and mining companies have handled their strike.

Amcu members at Lonmin Platinum, Impala Platinum, and Anglo American Platinum downed tools on 23 January demanding a minimum pay of R12 500 a month.

Talks to resolve the strike via the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration, have stalled.

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– SAPA