MARIKANA, South Africa, Sept 17 (Reuters) – South African
police stopped ANC renegade Julius Malema from addressing
striking miners on Monday as the government intensified efforts
to contain labour unrest at mines in the world’s top platinum
producer.

The strife has cost the industry 4.5 billion rand ($548
million) in lost output, President Jacob Zuma said, as two mines
reopened but there was still no end in sight to a deadly strike
at world No. 3 platinum producer Lonmin in which 45
people have died.

BATHOPELE MINE, South Africa (Reuters) – Labor unrest sweeping through South Africa’s mining sector hit top world platinum producer Anglo American Platinum on Wednesday, with stick-waving miners blockading roads leading to shafts and calling for a shut-down of operations.

At the firm’s Bathopele shaft in the heart of the platinum belt, a column of 1,500 chanting marchers confronted riot police who were backed by armored vehicles. The protesters jeered at workers inside the plant, a repeat of action taken on Monday at rival Lonmin’s nearby Marikana mine, where police shot dead 34 protesters on August 16.

MALELANE, South Africa, July 13 (Reuters) – A coal train
ploughed into a farm truck at a level crossing in South Africa
on Friday, cutting it in half and killing 24 workers on their
way to pick fruit – the latest tragedy to hit the country’s
ageing rail network.

Regional police spokesman Joseph Mabusa said it appeared the
truck driver had miscalculated when crossing the track, leaving
his vehicle directly in the path of a freight train carrying
coal to neighbouring Mozambique.

TZANEEN, South Africa, March 25 (Reuters) – South Africa’s
ANC youth rebel Julius Malema upped the stakes in his political
wrangling with the ruling party on Sunday, saying he would
challenge in court its decision to expel him.

The African National Congress expelled Malema from the party
in February for violating party rules, causing rifts in the
group and bringing the movement into disrepute.

ANTANANARIVO, Nov 20 (Reuters) – Madagascar’s army stormed a
barracks housing dissident officers on Saturday and ended a
four-day mutiny by the group who wanted to overthrow President
Andry Rajoelina.

The group of rebel officers proclaimed their plans from the
barracks on Wednesday as the country was voting in a referendum
on a new constitution and they called on other soldiers to join
their cause.

NKANDLA, South Africa (Reuters) – South African President Jacob Zuma married for the fifth time on Monday, giving the Zulu traditionalist his third current wife, witnesses and family members said.

Multiple marriages are allowed in South Africa and form part of Zulu culture but the practice has drawn criticism from HIV/AIDS activists in a country with one of the highest infection rates in the world.