A group of striking Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) workers singing liberation songs and wielding sticks and knobkerries arrived at Bleskop stadium, outside Rustenburg, on Wednesday morning.
When the police told their leaders they should not carry sticks, some of them dropped them and others hid them.
“Comrades, you are not supposed to carry sticks, bring them to me, I will give them to police,” said one of the leaders.
An argument ensued between the leaders and the workers about the sticks.
“We are not carrying guns. These are mere sticks,” shouted one of the workers, dropping his stick to the ground.
“If you carry on carrying sticks, you will be arrested. We are saying this as your leaders, please drop your sticks,” said the leader.
The workers had gathered outside the locked stadium, waiting for the gate to be opened.
“We are expecting to use the stadium for the meeting. We are on our way,” said one of the workers' leaders Tebogo Lebeke.
The mass meeting was called for the workers' leaders to update them on a meeting they had with mine management on Tuesday.
The meeting, facilitated by the Commission for Conciliation, Meditation and Arbitration, and was aimed at finding common ground for wage negotiations.
Workers went on a wildcat strike two weeks ago, demanding a monthly salary of almost R17,000.
Police and mine security were monitoring the situation. Two water cannons and three Nyalas were stationed at the stadium. - Sapa