Johannesburg - The Economic Freedom Fighters has pledged to donate another R50 000 to union Amcu's strike fund, the Citizen reported on Tuesday.
EFF leader Julius Malema made the announcement at the party's June 16 rally in Freedom Park, Rustenburg.
“We will never retreat from supporting workers. That is why we gave R50 000 to the strike fund, we will put another R50 000 tomorrow (Tuesday),” Malema was quoted as saying.
He called on workers to protect Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union leaders, the newspaper reported.
He said Freedom Park was the home of the EFF and Amcu.
Malema also criticised ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe and said the EFF would teach him how to dress first, the newspaper reported.
“Mantashe, with a scruffy beard, thinks he can intimidate the EFF.”
At a media briefing last week, Mantashe accused the EFF of turning the platinum wage dispute into a political strike.
On Saturday, at a post-election rally in Wonderkop, Marikana, Malema wished President Jacob Zuma suffering.
“Zuma is not sick, he is a troubled man. We do not wish him well, we wish him long suffering,” he told supporters.
Amcu members at Impala, Anglo American Platinum and Lonmin went on strike on January 23 for a basic monthly salary of R12 500.
Platinum producers proposed to increase the salary of the lowest paid workers by R1 000 for two years and R950 in the third year. This excluded other benefits.
The proposed settlement was for three years.
The platinum sector eagerly awaited whether the proposed deal to end the strike had been accepted by Amcu. - Sapa