Johannesburg – SA’s business sector
is calling for an investigation into why industrial action in the
country is becoming increasingly violent.
The call from business leaders follows
the violence at Lonmin’s Marikana mine in which more than 30 people
have died.
The Black Business Council (BBC) called
for an all-encompassing judicial commission of inquiry to investigate
the general conduct of industrial action in “a democratic SA”‚
and in particular to look at the underlying causes of the crisis at
Lonmin [JSE:LON].
“In particular the judicial
commission of inquiry should answer the fundamental question: why is
industrial action‚ be it legal or unprotected‚ becoming
increasingly violent?” BBC secretary Sandile Zungu said.
“We condemn‚ in the strongest terms
possible‚ the violence and deaths that occurred in the area around
the Lonmin-owned Marikana mine. We express our deepest condolences to
the families of the workers and the policemen who lost their lives‚”
Zungu said.
South African Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (Sacci) CEO Neren Rau said Sacci was disturbed by the loss
of life and ongoing violence at the mine.
Sacci called on the leadership of the
labour unions to engage in peaceful talks to prevent any further loss
of life and injuries.
“The tragic events of the past week
cast a negative light over SA and the willingness of stakeholders to
enter robust debate‚” Rau said.
Sacci expressed concern that industrial
action in the country was increasingly becoming synonymous with
violence and intimidation.
“The rights and obligations of
workers during industrial action are an important element of SA’s
regulatory regime and have far-reaching consequences on the long-term
economic growth of the country‚” Rau noted.
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