Lonmin strike platinum mine workers killed in South Africa

But faction fighting between mine workers armed with pangas and spears seems to be the main reason. Allegedly striking mine workers opened fire on police.

South Africa's police shooting at miners - Several dead
Marikana (Reuters) - During a strike at a platinum mine, the South African police opened fire on armed miners and killing several of them.

A Reuters cameraman saw at least seven bloodied corpses on Marikana mine about 100 kilometers north of Johannesburg. There had gathered about 3,000 armed with machetes and sticks miners, as officials built up barricades. The police had previously stated that the negotiations had failed in the ongoing strike for six days. In recent days, ten people including two policemen, were killed in fighting between rival groups of workers.

The unrest has forced the mine operators Lonmin to cease production in the country. This is equivalent to twelve percent of the world-platinum production. The London-listed company said it will miss its production targets for the full year. South Africa has about 80 percent of known reserves of the metal.



Struggles between unions demand ten dead

The situation between two rival trade unions in a South African platinum mine has escalated. Several people have been killed, including police officers. The police are trying desperately to mediate.

Striking workers close to the platinum mine.

Johannesburg after deadly clashes between rival unions in a South African platinum mine on the grounds of the police forces have been heavily reinforced. Heavily armed security forces on Tuesday occupied the mine from Marikana near the northwestern city of Rustenburg. With the discovery of another dead body since Sunday, the number of people killed in the conflict to ten.
The national police chief Riah Phiyega spent the night on Tuesday at the premises in order to negotiate with the mine operators, said a police spokesman. In addition, heavily armed police and helicopters were deployed. Owner of the mine, the group Lonmin, the third largest platinum producer in the world. Since the weekend fighting are members of a national union, and a smaller organization.
In the clashes, in which it was apparently different views on a strike at the weekend two security guards were killed by an explosive device. Two miners were killed on the way to work or in the dorm. On Monday police shot and killed three workers and two policemen were lynched. On Tuesday, was found in a nearby slum losing the body of a recently murdered man.
Lonmin announced that production had slumped significantly since Friday due to an illegal strike. Because of numerous incidents of violence dared and intimidation are not many workers to work, said a spokeswoman. In South Africa there are always violent conflicts between rival unions. The mining sector is the largest employer in South Africa, which has the most heavily unionized workforce in the world.

Several dead in union dispute in British mines

In South Africa, a dispute has escalated between several unions: a platinum mine workers fought violent clashes, at least nine people died. The share price of British mining company, fell.

Johannesburg - Ongoing protests in a platinum mine in South Africa have at least nine people dead. The riots focused on a mine in the British mining company Lonmin PLC Marikana near the town about 70 km from Johannesburg.

The protests began on Friday when 3,000 workers because of a union's internal conflict left their jobs. If the dispute is in part to the recruitment of members and to pay claims. Employees who wanted to go to the mine were injured by supporters of another union.
On Monday, the conflict escalated between the three unions. An angry group of protesters had overwhelmed the police, according to officials and their weapons seized. Police have opened fire and then apparently shot and killed several people. Among the dead were also two officers and a third is in critical condition. They were attacked by the crowd with machetes.

The mine is currently closed, said the spokesman for a union. The situation was tense. According to Reuters, the operation was limited. The share price in London fell by more than 1.5 percent then.

In January there had been similar violent clashes. Then a mine of Impala Platinum had been closed for six weeks. The mining industry in South Africa is already weak, there is a lack of investment for decades.