* Movement turning into grass-roots rebellion
* Zuma feeling the heat ahead of ANC vote
* Investors worried about risks to economy
By Pascal Fletcher
RUSTENBURG, South Africa, Sept 13 (Reuters) – A leader of a
major protest by South African platinum miners called on
Thursday for a national strike in the sector, deepening an
industrial crisis that is evolving into the biggest threat to
the ruling ANC since it came to power in 1994.
The wave of labour unrest in Africa’s biggest economy has
spiralled beyond the control of the government and unions into a
grass-roots rebellion by black South Africans who have seen
little improvement in their lives since apartheid ended 18 years
ago.
“On Sunday, we are starting with a general strike here in
Rustenburg,” protest leader Mametlwe Sebei told several thousand
workers at a soccer stadium in the heart of the platinum belt
near Rustenburg, 100 km (60 miles) northwest of Johannesburg.
The action was designed to “bring the mining companies to
their knees”, he said, to mild applause from the crowd, which
was armed with sticks and machetes.
Despite the weapons, the strikers insisted their push for a
sharp hike in wages was peaceful – even after the Aug. 16 police
shooting of 34 protesters at Lonmin’s nearby
Marikana platinum mine.
Continued…
