Jacob Zuma inquiry Lonmin mine killings
18 August BBC
South African President Jacob Zuma has announced an inquiry into
violence at a mine in the north-east of the country, calling the deaths
there "tragic". Thirty-four people were killed when police opened fire
on striking platinum miners on Thursday. At least 78 people were injured
in the confrontation. Mr Zuma said he was "saddened and dismayed" at the
"shocking" events and offered sincere condolences to all families who
had lost loved ones.
He said: "We have to uncover the truth about what happened here. I
have decided to institute a commission of inquiry. It will enable us to
get to the real cause of the incident and derive the necessary lessons.
"The president said his thoughts were with the families of those who
had lost their lives but also with the police "who have to intervene in
difficult situations". Mr Zuma added: "Today is not an occasion for
blame, finger-pointing or recrimination. Today challenges us to restore
calm and to share the pain of the affected families and communities.
Today is about reminding ourselves of our responsibility as citizens."
The president said it was a "cornerstone of hard-won democracy" to
allow for peaceful protests, but added that today was "a day for us to
mourn together as a nation - a day to start rebuilding and healing".
Mr Zuma had cut short his attendance at a regional summit in
Mozambique to deal with the crisis. He will later visit some of injured
being treated in hospital. The violence took place at the Lonmin-owned
platinum mine in Marikana. Some of the strikers' wives gathered near the
mine on Friday, chanting anti-police songs and demanding to know what
had happened to their husbands. "Police, stop shooting our husbands and
sons," read a banner carried by the women, according to the Associated
Press news agency. A strike at the mine began a week ago and had claimed
the lives of 10 people, including two police officers, before the
incident on Thursday.Police were then sent to break up 3,000 miners some
armed with clubs and machetes - who had gathered on a hillside
overlooking Marikana to call for a pay rise of about $1,000 (£636) a
month.
The circumstances that led police to open fire remain unclear, but
reports from eyewitnesses suggest the shooting took place after a group
of demonstrators rushed at a line of police officers.Police, armed with
automatic rifles and pistols, fired dozens of shots, witnesses said.
Police chief Riah Phiyega said officers "were forced to use maximum
force to defend themselves".She said 259 people had been arrested on
various charges. The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU)
accused the police of carrying out a massacre. "There was no need
whatsoever for these people to be killed like that," General Secretary
Jeffrey Mphahlele told Reuters news agency.
The miners, who are currently earning between 4,000 and 5,000 rand
($484-$605), say they want their salary increased to 12,500 rand
($1,512).South Africa is the largest platinum producer in the world and
the dispute has already affected production. Lonmin, the world's
third-largest platinum producer, has encountered similar labour disputes
at the Marikana mine.
In May 2011, the company sacked some 9,000 employees after what it
described at the time as "unprotected industrial action". Lonmin and the
NUM said all were later reinstated. |