SUMMARY

The conflict between NUM (National Union of Mineworkers) and Uwusa (United Workers’ Union of South Africa) took place in the larger context of tensions between the ANC (African National Congress) affiliated COSATU (Congress of South African Trade Unions) of which NUM was a prominent member, and the Inkhata affiliated Uwusa. At the time of the conflict between NUM and Uwusa, the ANC and Inkatha were involved in an armed struggle.

The conflict between NUM and Uwusa started when NUM called for a stay away in July 1996. The reason for this strike was a disagreement with the mine executives of the Gold Fields mine in East Driefontein. While NUM members followed the call, Uwusa members did not comply and went to work. This event instigated more violent events in the East Driefontein area between miners belonging to the two different unions. The fighting mostly occurred deep under the ground, in the mines themselves, where people belonging to the different unions attacked each other. Victims were either found with cut and stab wounds, or with bullet wounds. Between July and September, over 30 people were killed in the gold mines east of Johannesburg.

The non-state conflict between NUM and Uwusa is first included in UCDP data in 1996. In August of that year violent clashes flared up in the mines east of Johannesburg, resulting in over 25 battle-related deaths.