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Article

15 Jan 2018

Author:
Africa News Agency (South Africa)

So. Africa: Community members allege Royal Bafokeng Platinum mine security killed man during protest over labour issues; company denies allegation

"Man shot dead during protest at #RBPlat mine", 12 Jan 2018

On Friday, North West police said no arrest had yet been made after Kenneth Mputle was shot dead during a protest at Bafokeng Rasimone mine in Robega, near Rustenburg...Residents barricaded the roads in the village on Thursday, protesting against the death of their fellow villager. They alleged that Mputle was shot by mine security at North shaft when they marched to demand that the mine must reinstate former employees...The community alleges they were not given a chance to explain their grievances and were instead, greeted with a hail of live ammunition and rubber bullets. Headman Tommy Mntande said the group had no weapons which could have spelled something different. "The aim was to begin open communication with mine management. We do not understand what happened and why they shot us because we were not armed," he said...

Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat) which owns the mine said a group of more than 100 protesters, including former employees and unknown persons, attempted to gain unlawful access to the North shaft premises on Wednesday. "The premises were locked and secured by mine security personnel. As a last resort, and to prevent damage to property and injury to mine personnel, mine security sought to disperse the crowd, using rubber bullets and paint-balls," the company said. "During the course of the incident, an individual within the crowd was shot and killed by live ammunition. Based on preliminary evidence, including video footage, it is believed that the shooting was from within the group of protesters. The deceased was not employed by RBPlat."