Phakamile Hlubi-Majola says this follows after video footage showing several heavily armed private security guards interacting with miners. She says from the footage it is clear that the security guards have big rifles, and they are interacting with unarmed workers who are participating in a peaceful sit-in underground.

This as about 280 National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) members started an underground sit-in on June 19, demanding recognition of their union, the reinstatement of dismissed workers and the suspension of an official accused of sexual harassment. Hlubi Majola adds that this is very worrying because it suggests that the management of the company may have sent heavily armed private security guards underground to forcibly remove workers who are engaged in a sit-in. In the video, one miner on his knees is heard pleading with the armed security guards to shoot and kill him.

“It is also clear in the footage that workers pose no danger to the heavily armed security guards. One worker even gets down on his knees whilst speaking to the security guards,” Hlubi-Majola says since the strike began last week Wednesday, their members have demanded that the local organiser address them underground and Lanxess allegedly refused the request on the basis that the official had not been trained, and was not an employee of the mine, amongst other reasons.

She says on Tuesday 25 June 2019 management at Lanxess allegedly refused to allow food to be taken underground to these protesting mineworkers. “We condemn the backward management of Lanxess mines for their brutality. They are clearly not interested in a peaceful resolution to this strike.” “It is clear they do not want a peaceful end to this strike and our members requested to engage with a Numsa official. Lanxess should allow this to happen so we can negotiate a peaceful end to this impasse,” Hlubi-Majola concludes.

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