Rustenburg - Methodist Church Bishop Paul Verryn called for a peaceful solution to labour unrest in the mining sector on Friday, following a warning by the government that illegal protesters would be “dealt with accordingly”.
“I am pleading for high levels of tolerance from both sides...” Verryn said in Marikana, Rustenburg, where 45 people have been killed in labour-related unrest in the past month.
“We have already seen the result of strong willed stances in that massacre of 44 people. I am praying to God that we do not repeat the same mistake.
The only way through the situation was by keeping communication channels open, he said.
“Otherwise this country could easily devolve into a police state and intolerance becomes the order of the day.”
Regarding the issue of weapons being carried around by the protesters, Verryn said the arms must be put down.
“All weapons are a danger in my perspective because you don't know how this thing evolves to make it necessary to use the weapons.
“Having said that, I was present here during the marches and the miners were carrying their weapons. There was no slightest hint of any bad behaviour.”
Verryn said the protesters were highly disciplined.
“We need to get out of the mindset that we are dealing with barbarians here. We are dealing with highly disciplined, respectable people,” he said.
The clergyman has been involved in mediation efforts at the embattled mines.
“I have come today with Bishop Gavin Taylor to pray with the mourning people and to stand in solidarity with the bereaved.
“We have come at a time when there is an offer on the table (from Lonmin to miner) and obviously tensions are now going to rise,” said Verryn.
The mining companies needed to visit the families of those who were killed and apologise, he said.
“Nobody is completely innocent in this issue and nobody is completely guilty in this matter.
“I beg that we do not use violence in this situation Ä it becomes the new discipline. You may be thinking I am far too idealistic but remember it is what brought us through 1994,” said Verryn.
Groups of arm-wielding mineworkers started streaming back to an open space in Marikana on Friday after 3pm.
The men braved the sweltering Rustenburg sun, marching and singing raising weapons including knobkerries, sticks and arrows.
The protesters anticipate to be briefed on the developments around wage negotiations being held in Mooinooi, outside Rustenburg.
In Pretoria, government issued a stern warning to all people wielding arms and gathering illegally.
Following a meeting of security cluster ministers and other Cabinet members, Justice Minister Jeff Radebe said government would no longer tolerate the violence, threats and intimidation taking place in the mining sector.
“The South African government has noted and is deeply concerned with the amount of violence, threats and intimidation that is taking place in our country, particularly in the mining industry.
“These acts... clearly undermine our government's efforts of ensuring economic and security stability,” Radebe said.
Government recognised that if the current situation continued unabated, “it will make it even harder to overcome our challenges of low economic growth and high unemployment”.
“Our government will not tolerate these acts any further.
He announced measures to be put in place to ensure the situation was brought under control.
These included that “illegal gatherings, the carrying of dangerous weapons, and incitement, as well as threats of violence against anyone in the affected areas, will be dealt with accordingly”.
Radebe said law enforcement agencies “will not hesitate to arrest those who have been found to have contravened the law”.
Government was making a “clarion call” on all South Africans to desist from such illegal acts.
Asked if he was declaring a state of emergency, Radebe responded: “No, but we want stability; we want to bring about normality in the mining sector in South Africa.
“We can no longer tolerate acts of intimidation, illegal gatherings, and the carrying of dangerous weapons.” - Sapa