Posted: Wednesday, 22 August 2012

Ken Georgetti, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, says the CLC supports a full investigation into killings by South African police of striking workers at the Lonmin Marikana mine. Georgetti has written to South African President Jacob Zuma supporting a call by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) for a full investigation into the violence.

 

Read Ken Georgetti's letter to the South African President Jacob Zuma:

August 21, 2012

His Excellency Jacob Zuma

President of the Republic of South Africa

Union Buildings

Private Bag X1000, Pretoria 0001

South Africa

Excellency:

On behalf of the 3.3 million workers who are members of the Canadian Labour Congress, I write to support the call of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) for authorities to conduct a full investigation into the violence at the Lonmin Marikana mine and the appalling killings of striking miners by police this week. 

While your order to institute a commission of inquiry is welcome, we urge your government to quickly and fully investigate the actions of the police and bring those responsible for the bloodshed, that has claimed the lives of 34 miners and injured 17 more, to justice, without delay. 

We believe the only way to resolve the volatile situation in the mine is through negotiation and dialogue. We trust that intervention from the leadership of both unions, NUM and AMCU, as well as responsible behaviour from the mine management, which itself has a major responsibility for this situation, will bring calm and an agreed settlement that brings justice to all the workers.

We extend our condolences to the families and friends of all those who lost their lives in this latest violence.

Yours sincerely,

Kenneth V. Georgetti

President