REAL WINNERS AND LOSERS OF MINE STRIKES



Mine workers from Lonmin Mine



Back home in the Eastern Cape or Kingdom of Lesotho and all other places were the mine workers come from, is a mother worried about were the next meal will come from for her and her children as their sole breadwinner was one of the mine workers who passed away. Also on the other side of the fence a woman has lost her husband and the children lost their father who was a good police officer. She knew a day like this may come were she would get phone call to be told her husband and father of her kids is no more. Clearly you can get a sense these two parties on opposite ends are not the winners in the topic at hand. I asked myself, “Are they any other losers?” I had forgotten all about the South African economy, were most of us are tax payers! South Africa is a loser in this because our international image and credibility as a stable economy for outside business companies to do trade exchange with. We have taken quite a knock if I can speak plainly. The international media and world sees as a risky African country to do business in, as our future is uncertain and unclear to the masses.

The mine workers union also took a nose dive in terms of popularity measures in the eyes of the people they are meant to serve and protect.

So you may ask “who are the winners? “  I would respond by saying, “can there ever be winners in a dispute? The only winners I can note down are individual people or groups who stand to gain a lot out of the saga our country is currently facing. Let us think for other people who are suffering more than us and as a collective we must also protect the rights they do not even know they have and protect our countries image .in doing so our future will remain prosperous for the benefit of our children.