Gunmen open fire at Free State mineworkers, killing two
It is unknown if the attack is related to the strike by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union which began in November.
Sibanye-Stillwater’s Beatrix mine, no. 2 shaft, Free State. Picture: Facebook
An ambush has left two Welkom mineworkers waiting for their bus to work dead.
A group of Sibanye Gold Beatrix mineworkers was early yesterday waiting for their transport in the suburb of St Helena, Free State, police spokesperson Motantsi Makhele said. The bus was meant to take them to the Gold Fields mine located outside the city.
A double cab bakkie stopped in front of the workers and three armed men got out and shot at the miners, Mahele said.
A man and a woman were killed, two others were critically injured, and a fifth was assaulted in the ambush. The remaining workers ran away.
It is unknown if the attack is related to the strike by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) which began in November over failed gold wage negotiations, or the murder of a 53-year-old Beatrix mineworker who was shot several times in the back during the strike.
Amcu is striking at all Sibanye’s operations for a minimum wage of R12,500.
The mining group’s spokesperson, James Wellsted, has confirmed that the victims were Beatrix Mine employees.
– OFM News
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