Blog#4: South Africa Warns Against Violence as Protests Fester: Inequality, Kristin Climer,

      Miners in South Africa have been protesting for higher wages and more fair and equal pay. The protesters have become violent and and are armed with clubs, spears, machetes and other weapons. Many mines have shut down during this severe unrest. Although apartheid ended in 1994 and the white minority is no longer in power, their is still a huge gap between the rich and influential people and the majority of the country. The reaction of the miners is fueled by the poverty and continuing inequality the miners are experiencing. A total of 44 people have died as a result of the violent uproar sense the strike began on August 19th. The South African government is now threatening to punish any illegal protestors but they are being scrutinized for not acting more swiftly to stop the violence.
      The great violence being demonstrated by the miners at first thought seems to be a harsh reaction to low wages but when you consider the nations long history of severe inequality the violence doesn't seem like such a severe reaction. Many of the miners are dealing with life long inequality, poverty, and joblessness. When apartheid ended in 1994 and white minority was removed from power the inequality between races decreased but class inequality simply changed color. Although many blacks are now in power a large portion of blacks in South Africa are still severely oppressed economically. I can not agree with acts of violence as a way to bring change but I can understand how the anger and dismay these miners feel can make them violent when they have been continually oppressed for years and other methods to cause change have failed.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/15/world/africa/south-african-leaders-warn-against-violent-protests.html