Lonmin hit as three killed in platinum mine violence

Three people have been killed and at least six injured at a South African mine operated by platinum producer Lonmin as rival trade unions violently clashed with each other and with the miner’s security staff.

A series of violent incidents was sparked on Friday when 3000 Lonmin rock drill operators at Lonmin’s Western Platinum operations 60 miles north-west of Johannesburg staged an illegal strike over pay.

Four people attempting to report for work that day were injured, two of whom ended up in hospital after being shot, Lonmin said. Two more staff were admitted to hospital the following day, again with gunshot wounds.

As the violence continued, Lonmin said two of its security guards were hacked to death on Sunday as a large group attempted to attack its offices on the site.

And this morning, Lonmin confirmed that a third person had been killed in “suspected union rivalry”.

“We condemn these attacks and the intimidation associated with them. We call for calm from all parties involved and we expect the police to continue to take control of the area and prevent further loss of life,” said Barnard Mokwena, executive vice president of human capital and external affairs.

“We will do everything in our power to assist in restoring peace and order,” he added.

Friday’s illegal strike came against a months-long backdrop of intense and often violent rivalry in the South African mining industry as the 30-year-old National Union of Mineworkers and the fledgling Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union vie for members.

Eight months after agreeing a pay rise of about 10% with Lonmin, the strikers were demanding on Friday that their salaries be doubled, at a time when platinum prices are tumbling and miners’ profits are being squeezed.

Sources suggested that the decision of about 10% of Lonmin’s staff to push for an extra pay hike in these conditions may have been prompted, in part, by increasing expectations as the two unions compete for their affections.

Lonmin last month also slashed spending plans up to 2014 as it warned that poor demand and weak prices could persist for longer than expected. The recent wave of violence follows an attack earlier this month at one of Aquarius Platinum’s South African shafts after an attack that left three dead and at least 20 injured.