Cape Town - With the Marikana mining tragedy looming large over the Cosatu conference this week, delegates have asked for the urgent establishment of a second commission of inquiry to investigate the employment and social conditions of workers.
The declaration, which has not yet been adopted, also pledged to fight for the “reinstatement” of all 800 workers dismissed by Implats earlier this year in the wake of an unprotected strike.
Under a special congress declaration on the Lonmin mine tragedy, the inquiry would work parallel to the judicial commission appointed by President Jacob Zuma and led by retired judge Ian Farlam.
The federation’s general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, returned to his position unopposed on Monday, said that to change the mining industry “we need the maximum unit of workers”. Vavi said mining remained the backbone of the SA economy.
The federation said between 1900 and 1994, 69 000 mine workers had died as a result of accidents, with over a million seriously injured.
A further 2 301 workers had lost their lives in the 10 years between 2001 and last year and it is estimated 43 000 were seriously injured.
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said “many mining workers employed underground will not live to see retirement without bodily harm”. Vavi said the SAPS had “consistently” failed to act against physical attacks against NUM members.
The divisions among workers, combined with the appearance on the scene of unaccountable opportunists seeking to pull workers this way and that, were creating serious obstacles for NUM to take the struggle forward.
Cape Argus