Massacre at Lonmin Platinum Mine

South Africa has been shocked by the unprecedented massacre (at least 34 miners shot) of striking mine workers at the Lonmin Platinum mines in NorthWest.  As can be imagined there is much finger pointing and blaming taking place as to why the situation deteriorated to this point.  Following are a number of excerpts from the Mail and Guardian that may better help you understand the situation.

http://mg.co.za/article/2012-08-17-00-lonmin-crisis-a-tinderbox-of-discontent

Lonmin's burning: Mthethwa says over 30 killed

"Police did everything they could ... but people [the miners] said they were not leaving and are prepared to fight," he said in an interview with Talk Radio 702 on Friday morning. The minister said that "many" more were injured. The North West health department confirmed earlier 25 people were killed in Thursday's bloody clash between miners and police at the mine in Rustenburg. "The death toll is standing on 25," provincial health spokesperson Tebogo Lekgethwane told the South African Press Association on Friday. He said no injured people had been admitted to hospital.

http://mg.co.za/article/2012-08-17-lonmins-burning-25-people-killed-in-shootout

Amcu blames NUM, politics for Lonmin massacre

The Association of Mineworkers and Constructution Union (Amcu) has distanced itself from the conflict at Lonmin mine and said the massacre could have been avoided had management made good on their commitments to workers. Speaking at a press briefing in Sandton on Friday, Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa, said management had reneged on commitments it had made to miners earlier in the week. 

On Thursday a violent confrontation between striking Amcu members and SAPS forces at Lonmin's Marikana mine in the North West left 35 dead and 78 injured. 

http://mg.co.za/article/2012-08-17-amcu-blames-num-politics-for-lonmin-massacre

Platinum wealth holds no shine for people left in the dust   by Heidi Swart for the Mail & Guardian 

The Bapo Ba Mogale community of about 30 000 people live on top of one of the Earth’s greatest treasures – rich platinum deposits. Lonmin Plc, the world’s third-largest platinum producer, which has a market capitalisation of about R19.5-billion, mines the metal under the Bapo’s land. Although they settled in the area more than 200 years ago, community members say they share little of the area’s riches. 

This is a story about the toxic mix of poverty, the limitations of black economic empowerment, the exigencies of the corporate world, divided community leadership and, ultimately, the ordinary people who suffer as a result. 

http://mg.co.za/article/2012-06-28-platinum-wealth-holds-no-shine-for-people-left-living-in-the-dust