Davies to douse Juju flames

While Julius Malema continued stirring tensions in the mining sector, two ministers moved publicly to reassure foreign investors.

Violence erupted yesterday at the Grootvlei Mine in Springs - the venue of the dismissed ANC Youth League president's previous speech - as he yesterday visited his third mine in two weeks.

Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said yesterday he would visit London next week to allay fears that Malema's so-called mining revolution would jeopardise investment into South Africa.

And on the day that 162 of the miners who were arrested after the shooting at Marikana were released, Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane said Marikana was not a reflection of the business environment in the country.

Malema has been building his political comeback on the back of the unrest at Lonmin's mine, the site where 34 miners who were on an illegal strike were killed in a hail of bullets two weeks ago.

On the East Rand, four people were injured yesterday when Gold One's Modder East mine security opened fire on protesters.

Malema paid the mine a visit last Thursday, where more than 1000 workers were dismissed two months ago for participating in an illegal strike.

Malema last week said that mines will be made ungovernable unless bosses come to the table to negotiate about higher wages.

When he also made an appearance at Gold Fields' KDC mine near Westonaria yesterday, aiming to address 12500 striking workers, he was met by only about a quarter of that number, according to the gold mining company.

Gold Fields initially denied him access to the mine, but said it decided to let him in as his car was met by a crowd who accompanied him on to the property.

Malema was fiery in denouncing mining companies and stirred further discontent with established trade unions.

"Leaders of the National Union of Mineworkers [NUM] should know that you can't act for workers without consulting them, and don't take workers for granted," he told strikers at the mine on the West Rand, Sapa reported.

"If they fail you, you must lead yourself," Malema said.

The NUM was quick to dismiss Malema's visit to the Gold Fields mine. Spokesman Lesiba Seshoka said he was not invited.

"He is on a charm offensive to promote his idea of nationalisation," said Seshoka.

The NUM also said the violence at Gold One's mine should not be called a strike because the people involved were no longer employed by the mine.

Spokesman for the dismissed Grootvlei workers, Mahlomola Mohapi, who belongs to NUM rival the Professional Transport and Allied Workers' Union, said more than 500 miners gathered around the mine's entrance early yesterday demanding to be reinstated.

After a confrontation erupted between dismissed miners and those who were showing up for work, one of the security companies operating on site opened fire, using rubber bullets.

Police said four protestors were admitted to hospital, one of them in a critical condition, and 18 others were arrested.

With a judicial commission of inquiry still looking into the Marikana incident, Chabane, who leads an interministerial commission into the shooting, reassured investors that the government remained in control of the situation and the law still prevailed.

COPS TORTURED US, SAY MINERS

SOME of the 162 miners who were released yesterday claim they were tortured by the police while in custody.

The miners, who were released from the Ga-Rankuwa Magistrate's Court yesterday, said policemen wearing surgical gloves beat them up in their holding cells.

Bonginkosi Mtolo of Underberg in KwaZulu-Natal said the worst day was Tuesday last week, when a group of officers came to Bethany Correctional Service in North West and started to randomly assault them.

"They kicked and slapped us, stepped on our fingers with their boots after accusing us of having a nail in the cell," said the 31-year-old father.

"It was horrible and I am happy to be free."

The miners were released on warning, with strict conditions that they do not commit acts of public violence and intimidation after charges of murder and attempted murder were officially withdrawn by Magistrate Esau Bodigelo. - Sipho Masombuka