Nationalisation of the mining industry : workers’ views at Lonmin Marikana

Abstract: This study focuses on the views of mine workers with regards to the proposed nationalisation of mines in South Africa. A vast body of literature already exists about nationalisation, workers experiences in the workplace, their attitudes and the advantages and disadvantages of nationalisation; however, research indicates that there is a gap in literature about the views and attitudes of workers, specifically in relation to this research topic. The aim of this research is to explore workers’ views about nationalisation of the mining industry and how these views are shaped. This study uses Lonmin Marikana because it is an exceptional place and due to past events, these have given rise to workers being able to raise their voices about various issues they are facing and their views on various mining experiences. Literature indicates that the issue of nationalisation in South Africa has become debateable in the political spheres and political parties and unions such as the EFF, ANC, NUM and AMCU are at the centre of these debates. One of the arguments in favour of nationalisation is that it will prevent unfair exploitation and keep the means of generating wealth under public control, thus reducing the power of private capitalists. The argument in favour of private ownership is that it attracts international industry investors who will contribute to the growth of the economy. These arguments however fail to account for the views of mineworkers. Therefore, a small group of mineworkers from Lonmin were interviewed in this study, including certain political figures. Findings indicate that mineworkers’ views are mainly shaped by their experiences in the mining workplace and that the various forms of nationalisation they prefer are shaped by their affiliation to a particular political party and the past events that have occurred, such as the Marikana Massacre. Although the evens of the Massacre have shaped the views of mineworkers about nationalisation of mines, almost all of the mineworkers that were interviewed were more interested in change in experiences, thus, relating their views to workplace experiences and living conditions. Workers are in favour of nationalisation of the mining industry, but it is the form of nationalisation that differentiates their views. While some are in favour of nationalisation under the control of the EFF which they believe will bring change and fix the situations in the mining industry, others are in favour of nationalisation under the control of the ANC, believing that it is the only party that will truly always put South Africans’ interests first as it did during the apartheid era.M.A. (Industrial Sociology