Six die in Lonmin violence

[miningmx] — Four Lonmin employees and two police officers have been killed and
six injured in various incidents of suspected inter-union conflict at the company’s
Western Platinum operations.

The incidents followed an illegal work stoppage and protest march on Friday by
approximately 3,000 Lonmin rock drill operators, which quickly spiralled into
criminal actions by rival factions.

Four employees trying to report for work were injured on Friday, two of whom have
been hospitalised after receiving gunshot wounds, allegedly by rival union
supporters. A further two employees were hospitalised on Saturday, also as a result
of gunshot wounds.

On Sunday, two Lonmin security guards were killed as a large group attempted to
attack Lonmin facilities. Another two workers were killed on Monday.

“We can confirm that early this morning one of our members was attempting to
report to duty and he was killed. He was hacked to death,” National Union of
Mineworkers General Secretary Frans Baleni told Reuters. “Our members
are under attack.”

Lonmin’s Executive Vice President for Human Capital & External Affairs, Barnard
Mokwena, said on Monday two police officers have also died in a separate attack,
while another officer was seriously injured.