Marikana - Lonmin disaster.

As this is being written, the striking workers at the Lonmin mine (which will have some of the people recently released from jail on murder charges for the death of the 34 miners shot dead days ago) are staging a mass walk to the mine grounds. The South African Police have a presence on the roads, and are making futile attempts to stop the walk. As the crowd nears them, they are giving way & retreating to their armoured vehicles. This is in stark contrast to the recent shooting of 34 of the miners.

The shooting is going to be one of the times looked at as a course changing moment in time for our country. The only one seeming to be scoring out of this, is the recently ANC banned Julius Malema. The miners are suffering, the Trade Unions are losing face, The President, Jacob Zuma seems to be making decisions which are criticised by many (seemingly aimed at making his re-election impossible), the Minister of Police is being castigated, the mine management seem to be caught in the middle. They cannot give the workers a 300% increase in pay & still run the mine at a profit. As the mine provides a third of the worlds Platinum (used in car exhaust catalysers), it is of international importance that it keeps supplying its ore. So where is this going?

The deaths will not be repeated. Some kind of pay increase will be made. Car prices will go up.

The direct cause of this? Julius Malema started his demands for nationalising the mines last year. Persisting with this after being slapped down a bit by the ANC, ended with his being expelled from the organisation. Did he then keep quiet? NO! He has been telling the workers that the mines can afford to pay them their exorbitant demands. After the shootings, he appeared on the scene backing the workers, and somehow convincing the police to allow him a platform for giving a speech & to retreat from their lines. He is well aware that the ANC leadership has a director on the board of Lonmin. The press have incorrectly portrayed him as being dumb (due to failing exams which he didn't turn up to write). This is a shrewd man who has a part in this country's future, whether we like it or not.