JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Trade union Solidarity on Friday criticised the State and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) stating that the parties were “barely doing anything” to alleviate the humanitarian crisis caused by AMCU’s four-month-long strike in the platinum sector. 

Solidarity said thousands of people who were not even participating in the strike had become impoverished as a result thereof, noting that Solidarity’s Helping Hand social service organisation had already spent R700 000 on an emergency relief programme for the union’s members and their families affected by the strike.

Helping Hand was currently giving assistance to more than 1 000 families and some 4 000 people, was involved in nine schools feeding schemes worth R250 000, and was facilitating emotional and debt counselling on the platinum belt.

“AMCU, on the other hand, is not taking any responsibility for its members’ distress, which puts Solidarity’s aid programme under tremendous pressure. Yesterday, dozens of AMCU members descended on a feeding project of Solidarity, causing major turmoil,” Solidarity CE Dirk Hermann said.

He stated that Helping Hand could not take responsibility for AMCU members and the whole community.

“AMCU and the State must take responsibility for the situation,” he said.

Hermann further pointed out that AMCU’s strike fund was insufficient to adequately support its members, stating that the fund only made provision for R12.50 for each AMCU member for the entire strike period.

“We challenge the AMCU leadership to give food to hundreds of hungry children, and nappies and formula to mothers with babies at our next outreach actions.

“We are also disappointed at the State’s absence in the crisis. The situation is taking on catastrophic proportions, yet the State remains absent,” Hermann said, stating that this neutral position by the State appeared to be for political reasons.

AMCU had started its strike for an entry-level basic wage of R12 500 over a four-year period on January 23. The platinum producers’ latest offer would see workers earn a minimum cash remuneration – comprising basic wages and holiday, living-out and other allowances – of R12 500 a month by 2017.