After the Massacre: Life in South Africa's Platinum Mining Belt
Striking platinum mine workers march together in Marikana, near to the site of 2012's massacre. Image by Jason Larkin. South Africa, 2014.
Strikes cost SA 1.6 million work days in six months
The increase in working days lost, particularly in the second quarter, was driven by a prolonged wage-related strike at a large gold-mining company, the central bank said. About 31 000 workers at Sibanye Stillwater's three gold mines in South Africa embarked on a three-month strike for higher wages from early March. The protests hit …
The African Mine workers strike of 1946
The strike by some 76,000 black miners in 1946 was one of the most significant examples of industrial action by black workers in South Africa. Following the demise of the ICU in …
Marikana Massacre 16 August 2012
On 16 August 2012, the South African Police Service (SAPS) opened fire on a crowd of striking mineworkers at Marikana, in the North West Province. The police killed 34 mineworkers, and left 78 seriously injured. Following …
Mining industry in South Africa
Since then, the mining industry has become hugely important to the country, contributing roughly 202 billion South African Rand (roughly 10.9 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023 to South Africa's ...
2014 South African platinum strike: longest wage strike in South Africa
In democratic South Africa, the government allows citizens to express dissatisfaction through peaceful demonstrations. Workers are also allowed by legislation to embark on strikes when disputes with their employers arise.
Effects of the Mining Strikes on the South African Economy
By Saijil Singh, lead analyst, Coface A wave of violent, wildcat strikes that erupted periodically in 2012 rooted in a turf war between AMCU and the National Union of Mineworkers, cost platinum and gold producers over R16-billion that year, when the current account gap was 5,2% of gross domestic product (GDP). Mining production decreased …
Bafokeng mine strike has ended, disciplinary action to
The unprotected underground protest action at Impala Bafokeng's platinum mine, which began on Monday, has ended with all miners safely returning to the surface …
MINERS END STRIKE IN SOUTH AFRICA WITH NO WAGE …
More than 250,000 black miners agreed today to end South Africa's largest and costliest strike after three weeks. The gold and coal miners failed to win any improvement over a pre-strike wage ...
The impact of the 2014 platinum mining strike in South Africa…
In this paper we measure the economy-wide impact of the 2014 labour strike in South Africa's platinum industry. The strike lasted 5 months, ending in June 2014 when producers reached an agreement with the main labour unions.The immediate impacts on local mining towns were particularly severe, but our research shows that the strike …
More than 2,000 mine workers extend underground protest …
More than 2,000 workers have remained underground Tuesday, Dec. 19 in two shafts at Implats' Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum Mine in the North West province of South Africa for a second day in a protest over pay and benefits.
Report on the recent South African miners' strike
South African miners are in the fifth week of a wildcat strike that has paralysed… Ovambo migrant workers general strike for rights, Namibia: 1971-72 In the winter of 1971-72 the economy of South West Africa …
The practice of strikes in South Africa
International Labor and Working-Class History No. 83, Spring 2013, pp. 137–142 This note reflects on the August 2012 miners' strike at Marikana, South Africa in light of a century long history of violence associated with worker actions in that country and elsewhere in the Global South. It suggests that the breakaway union's allegedly 'illegal ...
More than 2,000 Implats miners remain underground in …
More than 2,000 miners at Implats' Platinum mine near Rustenburg in the North West remained underground on Monday afternoon after an illegal protest started at two shafts earlier in the day.
Risky business: Anglo American's South African struggle
Production at South Africa's mines has suffered numerous setbacks, including strikes and a decline in the operating environment, causing a major headache for Anglo American, one of the world's biggest producers. Ozge Ibrahim assesses the risks faced by the company, one of the industry's biggest producers.
What's behind South Africa's mine violence? | CNN
The 34 miners in the Lonmin mine in Marikana, South Africa, died after police opened fire on a gathering of thousands of machete-armed workers striking for higher wages.
South African 'hostage' miners emerge from underground …
More than 100 miners who had been underground for nearly three days amid a standoff between rival South African labour unions have returned to the surface.
Rand Rebellion 1922
Strikes. The New Year marked a strike on the collieries of the Transvaal. Strikes soon spread to the gold mines of the Reef, especially those in the East Rand, when electrical power workers and those in engineering and foundry occupations followed suit. By January 10, stoppage of work in mining and allied trades was complete.
South African Miners' Strike Ends As Rand Strengthens
RAYMOND, Maine — South African miners at the Sibanye Stillwater Mine ended their three-month strike on June 6, 2022, due to promises of increased monthly wages and annual bonuses. Three days after the strike ended, the economic situation for South Africans improved even more as the rand officially strengthened globally, …
Miners from a rival union are holding hundreds of colleagues
A group of miners from an unregistered, rival union are holding around 500 of their colleagues underground for the second day at the mine over a union dispute. …
Hundreds of miners leave South Africa gold mine after being …
SPRINGS, South Africa (AP) — Hundreds of miners who spent three days underground because of a union dispute left a gold mine in South Africa on …
Marikana Massacre 16 August 2012
On 13 August, 30 miners were delegated to cross the veld (field) that separated them from another Lonmin platinum mine, Karee, where miners were also undergoing a wildcat strike. The 30 miners …
South Africa: Mining unions extend strike over pay rise …
South Africa. Striking miners at South Africa's second largest gold producer, Sibanye-Stillwater, say they are extending their strike until they get a pay rise. …
Miners' Strike in South Africa Raises the Spirit of Resistance
THE nationwide strike launched last week by more than 300,000 black miners has caused new political uncertainty in South Africa. The strike raised the spirits of the anti-apartheid movement ...
The 1913 Mineworkers' Strike | South African History Online
Introduction: Background to the Strike. The formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910 was a development that had vastly different consequences for the various groups in the four former colonies. The union was a victory for the British – especially for the 'uitlanders' (foreigners) and mining magnates – who wanted to unite the country; but it was a defeat …
1946 African Mineworkers Strike
On 12 August 1946 African mine workers of the Witwatersrand went on strike in support of a demand for higher wages - 10 shillings a day. They continued the strike for a week in the face of the most savage police …
South Africa shocked by police shootings at …
Protesters gather at the Lonmin platinum mine in Marikana, South Africa on August 17, 2012 where the day before 34 people were killed when police opened fire on striking mineworkers.
South African unions plan strike at Sibanye's platinum …
South Africa's two biggest mineworkers' unions said on Tuesday that workers at Sibanye Stillwater's platinum operations plan to go on strike to show their support for gold miners locked in a wage ...
Eleven people killed in accident at platinum mine in South Africa
Eleven workers at a South African platinum mine have been killed and 75 others injured after a lift bringing the workers back to the surface dropped about 200 metres (656 feet), according to the ...
South Africa: Underground mine occupation | Africanews
More than 2,000 workers occupy a platinum mine in South Africa for the second day in a row on Tuesday, causing concern among families as the company tries …
Workers strike at Glencore Xstrata chrome mines in South Africa
Glencore Xstrata operations are down at three locations. Workers are on strike at three South African chromes mines owned by Glencore Xstrata Plc (LSE: GLEN), the fourth largest miner in the world.
Unravelling Urgent Interdicts and Labour Strikes in South Africa…
In the case of a labour strike, the right to strike presents an additional complication that employers, mine management and contractors must consider. The right to strike is a fundamental pillar of labour relations in South Africa. It is enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and further dealt with in the Labour …
South African gold mine operator to meet workers as strike …
South African mining company Sibanye-Stillwater is set to meet unions this week over a looming strike at its gold operations in the country. On Monday, a spokesperson for the company, which has ...