Violence in the mining industry strike shows no sign of abating and Westonaria police have their hands full containing sporadic violent outbreaks at local mines.
According to Westonaria SAPS spokesperson, Contable Thembi Masango, police have made numerous arrests of violent mineworkers throughout the week as violence continued at several mines in the area.
According to Masango, 13 people were arrested on Friday during the day, for allegedly damaging the houses of National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) members.
Things came to a head on Friday 12 October when around 600 angry mineworkers, some brandishing an array of crude weapons, stormed the Westonaria Police Station demanding the release of their comrades in police custody.
Negotiations between the police and mine workers broke down and the confrontation became violent with mine workers breaking the windows of the charge office, breaking down doors and throwing everything they could lay their hands on, including chairs and other furniture at police officers.
Police retaliated with force, firing rubber bullets and stun grenades in order to disperse the violent crowd.
No serious injuries were reported although several mine workers sustained minor injuries.
No police officers were injured during the incident.
According to Masango, 81 mine workers were arrested for public violence.
The workers range in age from 18 to 50 and will appear in the Westonaria Magistrates' Court during the course of the week.
Meanwhile, the Herald has heard from mine workers around Westonaria that they are constantly being threatened by striking mine workers.
"We fear for our lives. These people mean business," says one worker.
Some mines in the area have been closed for the past four weeks due to the violence.
Watch this space for more on this story as it develops.
http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/randfontein-westonaria/randfontein-westonaria-news-general?oid=6331671&sn=Detail&pid=489914
According to Westonaria SAPS spokesperson, Contable Thembi Masango, police have made numerous arrests of violent mineworkers throughout the week as violence continued at several mines in the area.
According to Masango, 13 people were arrested on Friday during the day, for allegedly damaging the houses of National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) members.
Things came to a head on Friday 12 October when around 600 angry mineworkers, some brandishing an array of crude weapons, stormed the Westonaria Police Station demanding the release of their comrades in police custody.
Negotiations between the police and mine workers broke down and the confrontation became violent with mine workers breaking the windows of the charge office, breaking down doors and throwing everything they could lay their hands on, including chairs and other furniture at police officers.
Police retaliated with force, firing rubber bullets and stun grenades in order to disperse the violent crowd.
No serious injuries were reported although several mine workers sustained minor injuries.
No police officers were injured during the incident.
According to Masango, 81 mine workers were arrested for public violence.
The workers range in age from 18 to 50 and will appear in the Westonaria Magistrates' Court during the course of the week.
Meanwhile, the Herald has heard from mine workers around Westonaria that they are constantly being threatened by striking mine workers.
"We fear for our lives. These people mean business," says one worker.
Some mines in the area have been closed for the past four weeks due to the violence.
Watch this space for more on this story as it develops.
http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/randfontein-westonaria/randfontein-westonaria-news-general?oid=6331671&sn=Detail&pid=489914
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