Unrest persists at South Africa mine

2012-09-15 1

South African police move in on miners hostels near Lonmin's platinum mine to seize arms.

It is the scene where 34 miners were killed last month by police

The tension is the latest in five weeks of labor unrest that has choked off platinum production in the world's top producer of the precious metal.

The unrest comes as the miners were offered increased pay, but the deal was still short of their demands.

Police arrested five people in the raids -- but for drugs offenses not weapons.

The government said on Friday it would crack down on illegal gatherings and the carrying of weapons.

The strikers say that the ANC and big unions have forgotten the needs of South Africa's millions of poor.