Two officials from the National Union of Mineworkers were shot in their Johannesburg offices Monday, resulting in the death of the union?s chairman and the hospitalization of another local union leader. The officials were shot near the Lonmin Marikana platinum mine, which was also the scene of last year?s police shootings that resulted in the deaths of 34 protesting workers. The NUM are currently in competition with the Association of Mineworkers and Construction union for majority representation of the mine workers. Tensions surrounding the country?s mining industry are expected to intensify as contract negotiations in the coal and gold sectors begin this month.
See "South African Mine-Union Chiefs Shot", Devon Maylie, The Wall Street Journal, June 3, 2013