NW police confirm stability at mines

This comes after a media statement by the National Union of Mines (NUM) that alleges police are failing to control the situation in the Platinum Belt.

North West SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said the police will never be detered from upholding the rule of law in the Platinum Belt, adding that the situation is currently under control.

"The status quo in the Platinum Belt is that there are no escalating levels of violence...workers are going to work, and life continues as normal in the area. Police continue to ensure that local residents are living in a safe and secure environment," said Ngubane.

Ngubane denies instability in the Platinum Belt

He cautioned that when people are analysing or commenting on any situation in the areas of Marikana and Nkaneng, they should not unduly link any crime that is taking place in the area to instability in the Platinum Belt.

"There were criminal activities taking place in the area before the situation in the Platinum Belt started, hence we have Marikana Police Station tasked with security in the area. These criminal activities will continue even today, and that does not mean there is instability in the Platinum Belt," said Ngubane.

He said police have seen only one death to date in the area of Wonderkop Sports grounds on Sunday, which he said was an "isolated incident". According to Ngubane, this incident occurred during awkward times and police cannot be everywhere to guard every individual in the area. The man was found dead at about 8pm on Sunday, 28 July. He was in his mine gear on his way to work and was allegedly shot with two bullets in the neck and the upper body.

"This is an isolated incident, which does not mean the situation is volatile in the Platinum Belt. It is an unfortunate taking of a man's life and we cannot at this point, determine whether the murder was pure criminality or lined to any mine-related situation."

Police are still investigating and believe perpetrators will be arrested and brought to book.

Misinformed statements destabilise the sector

Ngubane also lashed out at unions making misinformed statements and remarks that were not verified in public platforms like the media. This was after NUM claimed last week that one of its members was killed. Ngubane said the man, who was wearing a NUM t-shirt, was on his way to a NUM rally when he was attacked by unknown men with knobkerries.

"We would like to place it on record as the South African Police Service that no NUM person died on that said date, especially the man in question. The man was treated and released by doctors where he was treated at Brits Hospital and police would reiterate this and place it again on record, and the warm-blooded man is a living testimony to these facts."

Ngubane said such reports have a potential of sending shock waves and unnecessary tension amongst the people and destabilise the sector, which is the backbone of the South African economy.

"It is the request of the SAPS to all parties involved in the platinum situation to take caution when making statements that may instil unnecessary fear and uncertainty in the Platinum Belt."

Ngubane said safety and security was a shared responsibility "that all of us must ensure that our people are safe. This should be from the side of unions, NUM and AMCU, and the employer to join hands with the SAPS".