So says Mrs Joan Liela Davidson, whose husband has been without an income for the past three months due to the strike at Sibanye-Stillwater. Davidson’s husband, like hundreds of other breadwinners in the area, works for one of the contractors at the company’s mine. This means that, even though he cannot generate an income for his family during this time, he will not even benefit from the eventual wage agreements between Sibanye-Stillwater and the striking unions, the Associ-ation of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
The two unions started striking on 9 March and have shown no intention of accepting the company’s current wage offer.
Unlike the mine employees, the contractors do not get additional benefits like housing, either.
“We have lost everything we have gathered so far because of the strike. Luckily for us, we have family in Carletonville with whom we can stay. Many others are not as lucky,” says Davidson.
She says the union, Solidarity, has given out food parcels to its members affected by the strike. Members of other unions are not so fortunate, however.
According to Davidson, the residents affected by the strike try and support each other, but this is very difficult, especially because they have no idea how long the strike will continue.
