South Africa: The Coming Response to a Deadly Mining Dispute

About 34 South African miners were killed Aug. 16 as police dispersed a group of as many as 3,000 protesters on strike at a facility operated by the Lonmin mining company. Reportedly armed with sticks and machetes, the miners were protesting several issues, including low wages and the company's use of temporary workers.

Strikes occur regularly in South Africa, but the high death toll makes this incident particularly controversial. The controversy surrounding the incident may empower the Congress of South African Trade Unions, which could extract political concessions from its governing coalition partner, the African National Congress. But ultimately, upcoming elections will compel labor union and government leaders to resolve the dispute relatively quickly, as will the need to instill in investors confidence in the country's mining sector.