Pretoria: Two men will appear in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court today in connection with the attempted murder of a miner at Anglo American Platinum’s Khuseleka 1 shaft.

According to the police, two male suspects, aged 29, were arrested for attempted murder linked to the ongoing Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union’s protected strike.

Brigadier Thulane Ngubane said a 51-year-old man was on his way to work on 3 February, when he was offered a lift in an unknown car with two occupants.

“Upon arrival at the mine, the car parked near a group of picketing and striking mine employees. The victim was allegedly taken into the group,” Ngubane said.

The man was allegedly intimidated and forced to walk to the nearby stalls where he was undressed.

“It is alleged that he was later taken to a dumping site, where he was assaulted severely with stones. According to the information, he managed to escape and ran naked towards the shaft where he was rescued by mine security,” he said.

Police were notified of the attack and a case was opened.

The two were arrested on Tuesday when they handed themselves to the police.

North West Acting Premier Paul Sebegoe has welcomed the arrest, saying it should send a message to perpetrators of violence, associated with the current Amcu strike, that there is no place in society for bullies and those who have no regard for the rule of law.

Calling for a settlement to be found to end the month-long strike, Sebegoe said that acts of violence and intimidation of non-striking workers undermined peace and stability in the mining sector.

Workers belonging to Amcu have been on strike since January 23, demanding a minimum wage of around R12 500.

They have been picketing outside mine shafts in the Rustenburg mining belt, as employees and the union locked horns over a settlement.

SOURCE: South African Official News