Smanga Kumalo— The situation was tense at Rusternburg when police and marchers clashed. Police fired rubber bullets and used stun grenades to disperse a group of striking Anglo-American Platinum (Amplats) workers at a Cosatu rally in Rustenburg.

The group, clad in black t-shirts were blocking the entrance to the Olympia stadium where the rally was set to be held. Police had been escorting the Congress of SA Trade Union marchers to the stadium when the confrontation took place.

It is believed the group crossed the police line, and police fired rubber bullets to disperse them. The group said earlier that it belonged to the Rustenburg branch of the National Strikers Committee.

The committee claims to represent striking mineworkers in Gauteng, North West and Limpopo. They said they would not return to work until their demand of R16 000 salary increase was met.

The rally is expected to be addressed by SA Communist Party secretary general Blade Nzimande, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe and Cosatu’s general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.