Briefing: The politics of Marikana and South Africa's changing labour relations

Abstract

the South African police killed 34 strikers in Marikana, labour unrest continues across the country's mining sector. Industrial actions have targeted platinum giants like Amplats, the world's largest producer, where an 11-day strike over planned retrenchments has just ended and another is looming amid fresh wage talks. Rivalry between the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM)aligned with the African National Congress (ANC)and the more recent and militant Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) has also plagued the industry. On 17 October, an NUM branch chairperson at Lonminthe third largest platinum producer in the worldwas shot dead. Another Lonmin NUM shaft steward died in a similar situation on 3 November. A few months ago a former NUM leader who had become the AMCU regional representative in Rustenburg was ambushedone of several from both sides assassinated since the Marikana massacre. In other words, the 'Framework Agreement for a Sustainable Mining Industry', promoted by South African Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and signed by parties to the industry on 3 July 2013, has so far failed to restore peace to the mining sector in Africa's largest economy.