The Star reports that Minister of Mineral Resources, Mosebenzi Zwane, has challenged mining mogul and billionaire Patrice Motsepe to consider paying his mineworkers higher salaries as he does for players at Mamelodi Sundowns.
Zwane was among the keynote speakers at the memorial service on Monday for five mineworkers who perished after being trapped for days underground at Harmony Gold’s Kusasalethu mine. Motsepe, who owns Mamelodi Sundowns soccer team, is also the chairperson of Harmony’s board. Zwane said it was unacceptable that mineworkers were still subjected to poverty and dangerous working conditions while mine bosses lived a life of luxury. He then challenged Motsepe, whom he said he trusted, to change the status quo faced by the industry. “We will not be free until the last shack is eradicated and workers own mines,” Zwane also said.
- Read this report by Lindile Sifile in full at The Star
- Read too, Minister tells Patrice Motsepe to pay Kusasalethu miners 'decent salaries', at News24
- And also, Zwane: No true freedom until workers own mines, at EWN
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page