Amplats workers meet

Reuters

(File photo) Police keep watch as mineworkers take part in a march outside the Anglo American mine in the North West province.

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North West - Striking Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) workers braved a cold wind to meet at Sondela, near Rustenburg, on Monday.

Workers wearing windbreakers gathered at the Sondela sports grounds to discuss their plans ahead of another round of wage talks with mine management on Tuesday.

The workers' leader Tebogo Lebeke said they would know later on Monday, whether they would be able to use the Bleskop stadium to hold a mass meeting. The stadium belongs to the mine.

“We had planned to meet workers on Wednesday, to give them a report back, but a technical issue surfaced regarding the stadium,” he said.

Amplats' workers went on strike last Tuesday demanding a salary increase of R17 000, but were prepared to accept R12 500.

Roads in Sondela remained barricaded with stones and scrap metal on Monday.

Residents burnt down hawkers' stalls on Friday, and barricaded the road linking the informal settlement to the mine, and other internal roads with rocks and burning tyres.

They said this was to prevent the police from gaining entry to the informal settlement. They accused the police of shooting randomly when they dispersed mineworkers gathering illegally at the nearby sports field.

The workers dispersed peacefully after the meeting. - Sapa