Two policemen 'hacked to death' at South African mine clash

South African workers Monday hacked to death two police officers who came to quell deadly clashes between rival unions which claimed eight lives at a platinum mine run by Lonmin, police said.

"Our police officers were responding to a protest at the mine. They came under attack from the workers and two of them were hacked to death," said police spokesman Lindela Mashego.

A third officer is in critical condition in hospital following the unrest at Lonmin's Western Platinum mine about 100 kilometres (60 miles) from Johannesburg.

The violent clashes that broke out Sunday at Lonmin, the world's third largest platinum producer, have been described as a battle for dominance between the leading National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the smaller Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU).

Eric Gcilitshana, NUM secretary for health and safety based at the mine, told AFP that one of the workers was founded hacked to death inside his house Sunday. Another who tried to report for duty Sunday night was found dead with bullet wounds early Monday.

"Ten workers were assaulted -- four were killed," said Gcilitshana before the death toll rose.

Police said later that four more workers died.

NUM has denied involvement in the killings.

"We don't know who these people are," said NUM secretary general Frans Baleni. "We condemn the violence, particularly the killing of innocent workers and police."

The London Stock Exchange-listed company confirmed in a statement on Sunday the murder of the two security guards, saying the incident followed an "illegal work stoppage and protest march on Friday" by some 3,000 rock drill workers.

The company said the strike action "quickly spiralled into criminal actions by rival factions."

The situation remains tense at the mine.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/workers-african-platinum-mine-kill-two-officers-police-181904658.html

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