No room for anarchy in platinum belt, warns Police Minister

© Tomas Sereda – za.fotolia.com

"I want to appeal to mineworkers to report any incidents of intimidation to the police. [It is not] industrial action when somebody is going to damage, burn houses and properties, so a firm warning is sent to those who will take the law into their own hands by intimidating others.

"A zero tolerance stance has been adopted by the South African Police Service (SAPS) to deal with any eventuality, and operation plans have been drawn up and implemented," he said, including that police will, by means of an escort service, protect miners who want to go to work.

Minister Mthethwa was briefing reporters on the deployment of security forces at Marikana police station in the North West.

"We've arrested some people in this area. If we look at a period of about 12 months, we've arrested about 5,000 people and that shows that there is huge problem in the area of respecting the law.

"As government, we are emphasising that law enforcement agencies should ensure that people who are serial offenders; people who have attacked others and those with cases of illegal firearms don't get bail," he said.

Minister Mthethwa said cooperation between miners, who are not on strike and members of SAPS is crucial to ensure the safety and security of everybody in the area. Cases of intimidation of non-striking workers have been reported.

"I also want to call upon the mining houses to play their role because if Lonmin has workers around this area and (elsewhere)... it becomes important to understand that police can (only) do so much. We are not going to be able to deploy police everywhere around Marikana and deploy them at the same time (some) 30 to 40km away from Marikana.

"I want to reiterate that the issue of accommodation, temporary or otherwise, is the responsibility of the mining houses to ensure that their workers are catered for. I also want to urge mine workers to report to police any elements of intimidation so that police can act promptly and deal with perpetrators," he said.

The Police Minister further said that it has come to his attention that there are people perpetuating violence in the area.

"We know their names. We know what they are doing, including inciting people... Within hours we should be on top of them to ensure that people get the message clearly that in South Africa, the rule of law reigns. That includes the display of dangerous weapons," he said.

National Police Commissioner, General Riah Phiyega said: "Indeed for us, order, stability and peace are non-negotiable. They are very crucial ingredients of any democracy.

"We want to restore order, stability and peace in this area. Instability and the lack of peace have been going on for a very long time, and it is our wish that we can get to a point... where everybody can go to work peacefully."

She said that police will protect miners who want to go to work, as well as those who are on strike.

"For as long as the need is there, it is our duty and responsibility, we will escort the workers. When we are satisfied that people can go to work without being escorted, we will withdraw that service," she said.

Workers have been engaged in a 16-week wage dispute in the platinum belt.