Catherwood LibraryILR School

On Thursday, about 4,000 South African workers at mine company Lonmin's Marikana mine stayed away from work. Over 80,000 workers have struck since unrest began in August. Marikana was the site of violence during a six-week workers' strike the led to 34 people being killed by the police in August. The workers returned to the mine after winning a large pay increase in September. The company said that they were not sure why the workers were striking. Gold, platinum and coal production have all been effected by the strikes, and some mine are fighting back by firing striking employees who do not return to their jobs. Analysts say that most of the workers will be rehired when the mines reopen, so it is unclear how much of an effect the firings have. Over 50 people have been killed since August as a result of the unrest.