South Africa violence echoes nation's anger Not only has trust in the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party and its union partners to look after the interests of South Africa's working class suffered a substantial blow, but the uneasy 140-year relationship between foreign industry in South Africa and that largely black workforce has been irreparably damaged. Who is to blame? Unions say that the ongoing unrest spreading from the platinum belt is principally the fault of mining firms. Businesses, claims Frans Baleni, general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), have "systematically undermined collective bargaining" by ceding to demands made outside of the established process. But, if the mishandling of wage negotiations was the spark, the gunpowder was piling up. Many see the trouble as a direct result of the ANC's attempt, on coming to power in 1994, to balance its socialist ideals with its need to prevent foreign capital from departing the country. As a consequence, big business has been left largely untouched and the ANC has grown closer to its operators. Meanwhile, hopes among South Africa's poorest that they would share in the spoils of the country's growth have fallen short. Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) legislation was brought in following apartheid to close the yawning gaps between races in business, with one of its aims being to increase black ownership of companies. In reality, a small, politically connected elite have been the main beneficiaries. The mining sector also failed to meet last year's target to transfer 15pc of its capital into black hands, having transferred just 9pc so far. Nor has the industry been held to pledges made under the Mining Charter, the blueprint for the proper treatment of workers drawn up by government. As Iraj Abedian, the South African economist, told a recent Johannesburg debate: "Everybody in mining knows they haven't complied with the social labour plan as much as they should have." Yet there is little likelihood of firm action from the ruling ANC until after the party's elective conference in December, at which President Jacob Zuma is expected to face a challenge from his deputy. No wonder that investors are looking beyond the immediate negatives for South African resources to fear that the era of consensus is unravelling. "Net net, we're now underweight the country," said Merrill Lynch analysts yesterday. Certainly, those waiting in the sunshine on Friday had lost patience with the companies, unions, and leaders alike. "They have betrayed us," said one Amplats miner, Maxwell Bebeza. This country has been built on the wealth we produce - but where is our share?