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Two striking mineworkers have been shot and injured by mine security at Aurora today. This follows a wildcat strike, which began shortly after Julius Malema vowed last week to make the mines ungovernable.

Reports from the mine say a number of strikers infiltrated the premises this morning by pretending to be workers. They were confronted by mine security and shot with rubber bullets. The exact circumstances surrounding the events are unclear. The injured strikers have apparently been taken to hospital.

The strikers are being used as cannon-fodder by Julius Malema in his bid (and the bid by those around him) for power. This is likely related to the ANC’s internal power struggle being played out in advance of the conference at Mangaung at the end of the year.

Miners should understand that they are merely being used as pawns in a larger game and should reject the overtures of Malema and people like him. The ANC should get its house in order as its divisiveness is impacting on the well-being of mineworkers as well as the health of the mining industry.