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Rustenburg - Five months after a lengthy strike on platinum mines, informal traders in Marikana near Rustenburg, North West hope peace and stability in the area will give their business a much-needed boost ahead of the festive season.
"Things are better now since the strike ended in June. It was tough during the strike. We could not sell," said Agrippa Myaka, standing next to his fruit stall along the Marikana road.
"That strike affected us all whether you were directly employed in the mine or not."
Mining operations in the platinum sector were brought to a halt when members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) at Anglo American Platinum [JSE:AMS], Impala Platinum [JSE:IMP], and Lonmin [JSE:LON] downed tools on January 23 demanding a basic monthly salary of R12 500.
The strike ended on June 24 when the union signed a wage settlement. In terms of the settlement salaries would increase by R1 000 in the first two years of the agreement and in the third year by R950.
The companies said they had lost over R24bn in revenue and workers R10.7bn in earnings.
Myaka said he would do his best to take advantage of the current peace to make money.
"We are left with at least two or three weeks before mineworkers go on Christmas holiday. We have to take advantage of the situation."
Another hawker Andries Liopelo said business was stable now compared to the tense situation in Marikana a few months ago.
"It was not safe to live in here, you always looked over your shoulder to see who was walking behind you," he said.
Marikana was the epicentre of labour unrest in the Rustenburg platinum belt.
In August 2012, rock drill operators at Lonmin's Marikana operations rejected the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and led a wildcat strike where they camped on top of a hill near Nkananeg informal settlement demanding a basic monthly salary of R12 500.
Strike death toll of 44
The strike turned violent and 44 people were killed. Thirty-four were killed on August 16 2012 when police fired at them apparently attempting to disperse and disarm them. Ten people, including two policemen and two Lonmin security guards, were killed in the preceding week.
During a brief walkabout in Marikana, mineworkers in their work gear were sitting around a fire braaing meat together - a common social get-together in Marikana.
"We are together, we work together and live in peace," said Lonmin mineworker Tebogo Liau.
"During those days, strangers were not trusted."
He said during the "difficult" times crime was seen as political or union rivalry.
"If a man was killed, you first check which union or political party he belongs to. Now, if someone is killed we view it as crime."
Joel Chisalanga said they did not expect any labour action in the new year but in 2016 there might be a strike again.
"If the mines do not want to pay us we will strike. We expect wage negotiations to start in 2016. We are going to put aside money for in case there is a prolonged strike," he said.
North West police said the situation in Marikana has improved.
"The situation in Marikana has improved a lot, it is better than in 2012," said Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone.
The police launched "Operation Platinum Belt" in June, which aimed to bring peace and stability to the Rustenburg mining area. The operation ended in September.
Marikana, a town near Rustenburg, was laid out in 1870 on the farm Rooikoppes. The settlement later expanded into seven farms. In 1933, the Buffelspoort Dam was built, allowing the local farmers to irrigate their crops.
In the 1970s mining was introduced and grew to become the main industry in the region.
The main mining activities are platinum group metals and chrome. Since the introduction of mining activities, the number of informal settlements in and around Rustenburg has increased.
"Things are better now since the strike ended in June. It was tough during the strike. We could not sell," said Agrippa Myaka, standing next to his fruit stall along the Marikana road.
"That strike affected us all whether you were directly employed in the mine or not."
Mining operations in the platinum sector were brought to a halt when members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) at Anglo American Platinum [JSE:AMS], Impala Platinum [JSE:IMP], and Lonmin [JSE:LON] downed tools on January 23 demanding a basic monthly salary of R12 500.
The strike ended on June 24 when the union signed a wage settlement. In terms of the settlement salaries would increase by R1 000 in the first two years of the agreement and in the third year by R950.
The companies said they had lost over R24bn in revenue and workers R10.7bn in earnings.
Myaka said he would do his best to take advantage of the current peace to make money.
"We are left with at least two or three weeks before mineworkers go on Christmas holiday. We have to take advantage of the situation."
Another hawker Andries Liopelo said business was stable now compared to the tense situation in Marikana a few months ago.
"It was not safe to live in here, you always looked over your shoulder to see who was walking behind you," he said.
Marikana was the epicentre of labour unrest in the Rustenburg platinum belt.
In August 2012, rock drill operators at Lonmin's Marikana operations rejected the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and led a wildcat strike where they camped on top of a hill near Nkananeg informal settlement demanding a basic monthly salary of R12 500.
Strike death toll of 44
The strike turned violent and 44 people were killed. Thirty-four were killed on August 16 2012 when police fired at them apparently attempting to disperse and disarm them. Ten people, including two policemen and two Lonmin security guards, were killed in the preceding week.
During a brief walkabout in Marikana, mineworkers in their work gear were sitting around a fire braaing meat together - a common social get-together in Marikana.
"We are together, we work together and live in peace," said Lonmin mineworker Tebogo Liau.
"During those days, strangers were not trusted."
He said during the "difficult" times crime was seen as political or union rivalry.
"If a man was killed, you first check which union or political party he belongs to. Now, if someone is killed we view it as crime."
Joel Chisalanga said they did not expect any labour action in the new year but in 2016 there might be a strike again.
"If the mines do not want to pay us we will strike. We expect wage negotiations to start in 2016. We are going to put aside money for in case there is a prolonged strike," he said.
North West police said the situation in Marikana has improved.
"The situation in Marikana has improved a lot, it is better than in 2012," said Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone.
The police launched "Operation Platinum Belt" in June, which aimed to bring peace and stability to the Rustenburg mining area. The operation ended in September.
Marikana, a town near Rustenburg, was laid out in 1870 on the farm Rooikoppes. The settlement later expanded into seven farms. In 1933, the Buffelspoort Dam was built, allowing the local farmers to irrigate their crops.
In the 1970s mining was introduced and grew to become the main industry in the region.
The main mining activities are platinum group metals and chrome. Since the introduction of mining activities, the number of informal settlements in and around Rustenburg has increased.
