Johannesburg - A fourth man has been
killed at Lonmin's [JSE:LON] Marikana mine in the North West, the platinum
producer said on Monday.
"The employee was found with five
gunshot wounds," spokesman Barnard Mokwena said in a statement.
It was not immediately clear when the
man was killed. His body was found on the mine premises on Monday
afternoon. Police had been sent to the mine.
Provincial police commissioner, Lt-Gen
Zukiswa Mbombo, was reportedly involved in the investigations.
The third man died in hospital after
being attacked with a panga.
"He was hacked with a panga after
he and his colleagues came out of an evening shift on Sunday,"
Mokwena.
Several other workers were injured.
They had been treated and discharged from hospital.
Two security guards were killed when
their car was set alight on Sunday. Four other workers were shot and
wounded on Friday and Saturday.
North West police spokesman Brigadier
Thulani Ngubane said the protesters also burnt eight vehicles parked
on the company's premises on Sunday.
"We are investigating a case of
murder, arson, and malicious damage to property, but no arrests have
been made," Ngubane said.
Members of the National Union of
Mineworkers (NUM) and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction
Union (Amcu) were reportedly fighting for control of local mines.
Amcu secretary Jeff Mphahlele said his
union did not encourage violence and was not responsible.
"We have been recruiting across
the country and have at times been met with resistance. Four of our
members were shot at in Marikana, but they never retaliated," he
said.
NUM spokesman Lesiba Seshoka said the
police knew who the perpetrators were.
"They are actually aware of who is
responsible for this violence. The police are part of the problem."
Seshoka said the union would ask Police
Minister Nathi Mthethwa to intervene.
In February, the two unions clashed
over membership at Impala Platinum's mines in Rustenburg.