Marikana deadlock hits bellies
But workers dig in heels in bid to break poverty cycle
NEARLY two years after mineworkers paid in blood trying to get better living conditions, not much has changed for those living in Marikana.
As more than 70 000 workers at Lonmin, the major employer of people in Marikana, entered the 21st week of their strike, the workers were reluctant to predict when the strike might end.
The platinum belt, which has the world’s richest reserves of this metal, has been plagued by labour upheaval since rock-drill operators downed tools over wages at Impala in January 2012, triggering wildcat strikes across the mining sector.
As mining bosses, government officials and leaders of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) remained deadlocked in talks this week on a demand for a basic wage of R12 500 for entry- level workers by 2017 — which mining companies say is unaffordable — strikers in Marikana were adamant that they would not settle for a meagre increase.
“I will not go back to work until we have a deal for R12 500,” said Manelisi Notyeke*, a 34year-old winch operator from Lusikisiki in the Transkei, who has worked at Lonmin’s Karee mine for nearly a decade.
He lives in a rented room with no running water in Marikana. Talking about the Lonmin strike that led to police killing 34 miners in August 2012, Notyeke said it was all for nothing.
“Nothing. Nothing has changed since the strike in 2012. We are still living in the same conditions, we are still not earning enough. It is a struggle.”
Notyeke has not been able to pay his rent, a clothing account or a loan repayment of R995 a month. “I didn’t take out the loan because of the strike. I took it out before the strike, because I was making too little money to survive,” he said.
The mineworker supports his parents, wife and three children in Lusikisiki with the money he earns at the mine.
One worker at the Karee mine said he would like to return to work, but feared for his safety. “Life only comes once,” he said.
Most of the striking workers in the Marikana area shared Notyeke’s sentiment. They said things had to change, and they would not return to work until theywere assured of the R12 500 basic salary that they have been demanding. After the Marikana slaughter, Lonmin promised living conditions would change. According to a recent study by the Bench Marks Foundation, the company promised to build 5 500 to 6 000 houses since 2003, but no houses have yet been built.
Lonmin’s Sustainability Report says 2 439 people live in its converted hostel blocks and 1 171 in the 300 houses that it managed to sell to mineworkers. That houses about 3 600 of the mining company’s more than 38 000 workforce.
About 42% of Rustenburg’s population lives in informal settlements, compared with the national average of 15%.
Poor living conditions and the large number of dependants — mineworkers support on average eight to 10 people – add to the financial burdens of the workers.
To date, workers have lost about R10-billion in wages and the mining companies more than R21-billion in revenue, statistics compiled by the producers show.
Workers surveyed shortly after Amcu leader Joseph Mathunjwa addressed a crowd at Wonderkop Stadium, said they were expecting news from the union on an offer early this week. “It’s been too long, but I have hope. When we get what we want, we will return to work,” Notyeke said.
A small shopping centre in Marikana’s main road shows the wider effect of the strike, with a third of the shops standing empty.
I have hope. When we get what we want, we will return to work
A cashier at Choppies Superstore, where a few people were shopping for basics like rice and mealie meal on Wednesday, said business had been very slow since the strike started.
Two Pakistani brothers own one of the few stores still open in the centre. One said business had been dire. “We manage to keep this shop in Marikana open because our other brother also has a shop in Mooinooi where more white people stay. Many are not on strike so they are still buying. But here the people are suffering,” he said.
* Not his real name