Mining companies urged to share riches

Cape Town - The mineral resources minister on Tuesday said mining firms must do more to share mineral riches, saying the deadly Lonmin shooting was a chance to flush out bad practices still dogging the industry.

"It surely cannot be correct that mining communities such as those of Marikana and other mining areas should see prosperity and conspicuous consumption by companies and mine bosses whilst they continue to experience poverty," said Susan Shabangu.

"The mines must redouble efforts in the cause of good social and labour programmes to ensure that this happens."

Shabangu called for the industry to take the initiative to improve conditions in mines and communities.

"If they are unhappy, the industry is equally so," she told a special parliamentary debate on the tragedy at the Lonmin mine where police gunned down 34 strikers last week in a crackdown on miners protesting for higher wages.

"So, if we can all really work together, in a spirit of collaboration and fairness with minimum recrimination, we can use this tragedy to undo many of the wrong practices that still mark the mining sector," Shabangu said.