Workers at Lonmin's Western Platinum mine have put down their equipment in support of colleagues who were recently dismissed.

Elfus Ngoepe from the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said that the action was not a strike.

Workers at the shaft in Rustenburg saw colleagues dismissed after an apology from management was refused because an underground mine did not arrive on time.

The workers want their colleagues to be reinstated with no disciplinary action to be taken against others.

The NUM is attempting to resolve the issue as soon as possible and Mr Ngoepe said it was making efforts to "normalise" the situation.

Speaking to iafrica.com, Alex Shorland-Ball said that some people had been dismissed but a normal turnout had occurred on Friday.

The Lonmin spokesman said there was no work stoppage at the Western Platinum mine.

According to Mr Ngoepe, about 3,000 workers could have been involved in the protest.



Source:

Work stoppage at Lonmin
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