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The armed strikers and protesters at Lonmin’s Marikana mine outside Rustenburg did not return to work today as required by the peace accord.

Gideon du Plessis, General Secretary of Solidarity, says the striking workers’ representatives did not show up for the negotiations. “The representatives said they were too tired to attend the talks. Church leaders provided feedback on behalf of the workers’ committee at the meeting, indicating that the workers will not return to work until their demand for a R12 500 wage is met. The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration requested a day’s postponement in order to meet with the workers’ committee for the last time.”

Solidarity is not optimistic that the dispute will be resolved, as it clearly involves more than just wages.