South African miners refuse to return to tragedy-hit mine

DHAKA: Workers at South Africa`s tragedy-hit mine vowed to prolong their wildcat strike as returning to work would be `an insult` to 34 colleagues killed by police.

The scene of Thursday`s bloodshed, the worst police violence since apartheid, was deserted as workers at a hostel of the London-listed Lonmin platinum mine said they would press on with their wage demands.

`Expecting us to go back is like an insult. Many of our friends and colleagues are dead, then they expect us to resume work. Never,` said worker Zachariah Mbewu, adding that no one would return to work as long as they were still in mourning, reports The Straits Times.

`Some are in prison and hospitals. Tomorrow we are going back to the mountain (protest site), not underground, unless management gives us what we want.`

BDST 0210 HRS, AUG 20, 2012
Edited by Robab Rosan, Cultural Affairs Editor