News24 reports that Lonmin will investigate a statement made by its spokesperson that miners at its platinum mine in Marikana do not want houses and want to live in informal settlements.  

Mine spokesperson Sue Vey – in an interview with News24 on Thursday - was responding to a damning report by Amnesty International detailing how Lonmin was still failing to provide adequate housing for its workforce in Marikana.  Vey said part of the reason the company had not built adequate housing was because "miners chose to live in informal settlements".  She went on to say:  "We have learnt our employees don't want houses.  They want to go back to their home countries and province... They choose to live in informal settlements."  However, Lonmin CEO Ben Magara refuted this was the case on Friday.  “We have launched an investigation into the matter as to how this statement came about,” he indicated.

• Read this report by Lizeka Tandwa in full at Fin24
• Read Magara’s press statement at Lonmin online

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page