South Africa: Bishop warns of growing crisis in platinum mines

Bishop Kevin Dowling

The Bishop of Rustenburg, Mgr Kevin Dowling has expressed concern over the growing unrest in the Marikana platinum mines, following the murder of a trade unionist on Sunday, 12 May.

The man, Mawethu Steven, worked for the AMCU, the strongest union in negotiations with mining companies. Two other people were subsequently also killed.

Bishop Dowling said: "With regards to these murders we have to wait for the conclusions of the police investigation. It is very difficult to disentangle this matter to find the truth."

Mawethu Steven was going to testify at a trial regarding the killing in August 2012 of 34 miners by the police during a previous protest.

Bishop Dowling said that the latest killings, together with the announcement by Anglo American Platinum that they have sacked 6,000 miners was contributing to a great sense of tension in the area.

Source: Fides