Eyewitness News: Amcu hasn't signed peace agreement

Gia Nicolaides & Carmel Loggenberg | 06 September 2012
MARIKANA - The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) on Thursday confirmed the union has not signed the peace agreement over the Marikana strike.

It emerged earlier; unions and Lonmin bosses have reached agreement on creating stability at Lonmin's Marikana mine to pave the way forward for further talks.

Amcu's Joseph Mathunjwa spoke to Talk Radio 702's John Robbie a short while ago.

“On Friday, Amcu will be holding an official press conference in Johannesburg to state its position clearly.”

This development comes a day after miners marched in Marikana saying they will bring operations to a standstill and would not go back to work until their demand for a R12,500 salary is met.

The miners also threatened to kill management, accusing them of not taking their demands seriously.

Striking miners are expected to meet in Marikana later to discuss the way forward.

Lonmin bosses have signed a peace accord with other unions excluding Amcu. It is hoped they will sign later so that wage negotiations will get underway and miners can return to work by Monday, the latest.

Lonmin’s Bernard Mokwena said, “The document is a very important symbolic gesture for South Africa and we expect all the parties to respect the peace accord.”

The peace accord is aimed at paving a stable environment in which salary hikes can be negotiated.

In August, at least 44 people were killed during clashes with the police.

President Jacob Zuma later appointed a commission of inquiry to investigate the bloodbath.

The commission has four months to conclude its investigation.

At the same time, various organizations and labour activists plan to march to Parliament in support of the Lonmin miners.

They are also doing it in memory of the miners who lost their lives exactly three weeks ago.

Cape Town’s Marikana Solidarity Committee has called on organisations to show their support for miners by joining a march to Parliament on Saturday.

The committee’s Martin Jansen believes the march is a chance for residence to show their solidarity with families of the miners.

He said while many have been vocal about the killings, no physical action has been taken.

Jansen said despite the committee being in preparation stages for the march, he is confident people will come out to support the course.

(Edited by Lindiwe Mlandu)

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