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7 August, 2006
South Africa’s National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) will conduct week-long commemorations all this week in tribute to a defining mining strike that occurred 60 years ago on 12 August.
Hundreds of miners, then part of NUM’s predecessor, the Black Mineworkers’ Union, struck on that day in 1946 at Witwatersran for a wage increase of 60 shillings and an end to single sex hostels. The strike was met by white police and the private security forces of the mining bosses, who violently put down the strike, maiming and killing several mineworkers in the process.
“It is important to recall the contributions made by these black mineworkers, their resilience and resistance under difficult times,” stated NUM President Senzeni Zokwana, who also is President of the ICEM. Zokwana specifically mentioned the names of J.B. Marks, J.J. Majoro, and Thabo Mofutsanyane as courageous trade union leaders who made a stand on behalf of black mineworkers.
“The fact that the NUM is here today is due to the early efforts of these leaders and workers in organising mineworkers,” Zokwana said.
The commemorations started yesterday when African National Congress Secretary General Kgalema Motlanthe addressed a NUM memorialisation event in Welkom, Free State. All of NUM’s 11 regions will conduct activities this week that will culminate in a march on Saturday, 12 August, on the offices of the Chamber of Mines in Johannesburg. On Wednesday, 9 August, a tribute honouring the 50th Anniversary of the Women’s March to Union Buildings will be held. This will recognise the constraints still facing women who work in South Africa’s mining industry, as well as honouring women who have lost their husbands in mining accidents.