A leader of a major protest by South African platinum miners called on Thursday for a national strike in the sector, deepening an industrial crisis that is evolving into the biggest threat to the ruling ANC since it came to power in 1994.
The wave of labour unrest in Africa’s biggest economy has spiralled beyond the control of the government and unions into a grass-roots rebellion by black South Africans who have seen little improvement in their lives since apartheid ended 18 years ago.
“On Sunday, we are starting with a general strike here in Rustenburg,” protest leader Mametlwe Sebei told several thousand workers at a soccer stadium in the heart of the platinum belt near Rustenburg, 100 kilometres northwest of Johannesburg.
The action was designed to “bring the mining companies to their knees”, he said, to mild applause from the crowd, which was armed with sticks and machetes.
Despite the weapons, the strikers insisted their push for a sharp hike in wages was peaceful – even after the August 16 police shooting of 34 protesters at Lonmin’s nearby Marikana platinum mine.
“There should be no blood,” one placard read.
