Must there always be a strike or blood shed before the peole of South Africa get paid?
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| MOTIONLESS: Mine workers killed for fighing for a better life. Source |
On August the 16, 2012, more than 30 mine workers laid motionless on the grounds of the Marikana in Rusternburg, North of Johannesburg. This comes after the police opened fire in self defence against armed stiking mine workers who had had enough of being paid peanuts read more.... This day became the bloodiest day in post apartheid.
Mining companies make millions if not billions a year and yet they fail to pay their workers a decent salary. The Lonmin's Marikana platinum mine is one of the richest mines in the world, situated in one of the most poorest commuities of all read more.... Can you really blame the workers for downing their tools in a quest for a better life for their families? I don't think so.
The mine workers are undermined and looked down on, forgetting that these people are the ones risking their lives for companies such as the Lonmin's mine to make big bucks and give our economy a boost.
We portray ourselves as a rainbow nation, and that all that happend in the apartheid era is forgiven and forgotten. but the sad truth is that we are not yet uhuru (not yet free) from all the oppression. Within a blink of an eye the apartheid regime came back to life, one would swear that it was the Sharpville Massacre that took place in the 1960s.
South African Mines should take a bow of embarrassement for the show they've put on. It is time mine workers get paid decent salaries that will enable them to live in decent houses just like their bosses.
These people who strike don't really think of the impact they'll be making when striking, all they have in mind is money and now they lost their lives over some strike. Now everyone wants their pay to increase but there's a right and wrong way of going about it and by the looks of all those lifeless bodies...they went about it the wrong way.
ReplyDeletei can really say the action of the strike wa good for the mines to stand their ground and ask for a decent salary i mean the risk their lives they should get a lot or doing that,the lonmin's mines should have really set down with the workers and negotiated a reasonable amount for the workers to avoid such issues
ReplyDeleteAlso Unions need to consult with the employes early and stop promising workers impossible things.
ReplyDeleteWhen people sometimes strike they forget that it is dangerous we all want to be heard but it is sad that situations has to end like this. It is really tragic
ReplyDeleteDo you really think that this was intentional? I think if the union would have guided these people then non of this would have happend.
ReplyDeleteI do not blame the workers if the mine is the richest mine in the world but the sad part is that people had to loss their live for them to be hard. This people are taking advantage of the poor people by paying them peanuts while they are making a lot of money.
ReplyDeleteWas the strike formal? No, they protested on thier on risk look now what has happened. we trying to put a blame on someone while we should be blaming no one but the protester.
ReplyDeleteIt is disturbing to see that these days even fighting for a better life is not enough because you just end up being killed. The government has lost touch with the people and does not understand the plight of the suffering any longer.
ReplyDeletethis is so unfair because these people earn a little for doing a heavy and dabgerous job
ReplyDeleteunfair on the side of the miners I cant wait to hear what the commission comes up with may is the report will say police did nothing wrong
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