The African National Congress welcomes the recent agreement to end the five-month-long platinum strike in the platinum mining sector, which is expected to be signed today, Tuesday. The workers' unions announced on Monday that the five-month platinum sector strike was officially over and it would sign wage agreements with the platinum producers on Tuesday, 24 June.
On Monday about 20 000 union members met at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Phokeng near Rustenburg and endorsed a wage settlement that would increase the basic salary of the lowest-paid worker by R1 000 over a period of three years, excluding other benefits.
The end of the strike would pave the way for peace and stability to be restored and for mining operations to return to full productivity. The resolution of the strike averted what could have become a human catastrophe, though the economy had already suffered.
As the ANC, we pledge our support for the healing process that needs to unfold in the aftermath of the violence and losses suffered during the protracted strike. I thank you. [Applause.]