Scores of mine workers killed by the police in South Africa

[Askari Kanzu]

S. Africa police fire at striking mine workers
By Jon Gambrell, Associated Press

JOHANNESBURG – South African police opened fire Thursday on a crowd of striking workers at a platinum mine, leaving an unknown number of people injured and possibly dead. Motionless bodies lay on the ground in pools of blood.

Police moved in on striking workers who gathered near the Lonmin PLC mine Thursday afternoon after urging them to give up their weapons and go home to their hostels and shacks. Some did leave, though others carrying weapons began war chants and soon started marching toward the township near the mine, said Molaole Montsho, a journalist with the South African Press Association who was at the scene.

The police opened up with a water cannon first, then used stun grenades and tear gas to try and break up the crowd, Montsho said.

USA Today

 

[Babylon]

Deadly clashes at South Africa's Lonmin Marikana mine

The BBC's Milton Nkosi says up to seven people were killed


Police in South Africa have opened fire during clashes with striking workers at the Marikana platinum mine, leaving at least seven people dead, witnesses say.

South African media reports put the death toll at 12 or even higher.

Police opened fire after miners carrying machetes defied an ultimatum to disarm, reports from the scene say.

The mine, owned by Lonmin, has been at the centre of a violent industrial dispute exacerbated by inter-union tensions.
Ten people had previously died as a result of clashes since the strike began last Friday.

The striking miners had gathered on a rocky hill near Marikana, the third-largest platinum mine in the world.

Several injured people were treated at the scene after the violence

Some union leaders and police had tried in vain to disperse the crowd, some of whom said they were prepared to die on the hill.

During the clashes, missiles - thought to be either petrol bombs or grenades - were thrown at police, who responded by opening fire, eyewitnesses said.

Reports said a group of miners had approached police lines before the shooting began.

One witness, Molaole Montsho, of the South African news agency Sapa, told the BBC police had first used tear gas in an attempt to disperse the miners.

"The police threatened with them water from the water cannon, fired tear gas and stun grenades. And then in the commotion - we were about 800m (2,600ft) from the scene - we heard gunshots that lasted for about two minutes," he said.

He also said he had counted 18 bodies lying on the ground after the gunfire, but could not tell whether they were dead or alive.

'Illegal gatherings' The police ministry acknowledged that there had been deaths, but defended the police's actions.

"To protest is a legal and constitutional right of any citizen," spokesman Zweli Mnisi told the AFP news agency in a text message.

"However, these rights do not imply that people should be barbaric, intimidating and hold illegal gatherings. We had a situation where people who were armed to the teeth attacked and killed other."

President Jacob Zuma said he was "shocked and dismayed at this senseless violence".

"We call upon the labour movement and business to work with government to arrest the situation before it deteriorates any further," said Mr Zuma.

"I have instructed law enforcement agencies to do everything possible to bring the situation under control and to bring the perpetrators of violence to book."

The recent violence was initially thought to have been triggered by a turf war between the long-established National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the newly-formed Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), which is more militant.
However, the AMCU has since demanded a pay rise of 12,000 rand ($1,500; £930) per month.

Lonmin said in a statement on Thursday that the strike was illegal and that any striking workers who did not return to work by Friday would be sacked.

The company said it had missed six days of production as a result of the unrest, and estimated it would lose around 2% of its normal yearly output of saleable platinum. The company's share price dropped by more than 6% on Thursday on the London Stock Exchange.

The violence has shocked South Africans, with many finding the scenes reminiscent of how the apartheid regime dealt with protests, the BBC's Milton Nkosi in Johannesburg reports.

 

[Askari Kanzu]

 

[Raia Fulani]

oppression is rampant

 

[Kijakazi]

Miaka ya 1960 Dunia ilishuhudia mauaji ya kutisha huko (Sharpeville Massacre) Afrika Kusini na Dunia nzima ililaani Serilali walioibatiza kuwa ya kibaguzi kwa watu wenye asili ya Afrika, leo hii miaka 50 baadae SERIKALI YA WAAFRIKA AFRIKA KUSINI KWA KUTUMIA POLISI WAKE WAMEWAUA WATU ZAIDI YA 18 KWA RISASI ZA MOTO!

Je kuna haja ya kubadilisha vitabu vyetu vya historia tunavyofundishwa kwamba wazungu walikuwa wabaya na wabaguzi walitesa babu zetu wakati sisi wenyewe tunafanya hayo hayo? Je sisi waafrika ni watu wanafiki kuliko wote Dunia hii? Ni kwa nini tuko kama watoto tunalia lia tu kila siku tunaonewa sisi tu?

 

[Ngandema Bwila]

The problem is that Most African governments have lost influence and relevance to their people justlike the colonies did. Their only alternative is use intimidations through useof police forces, bad laws and court injunctions! If you ask me why is because our leaders now are black skinned white hearted. Kama kiongozi anadiliki kupora mali ya inchi yake na kuficha nchi za nje unategemea ni Mwafrika mwenzako huyo. Nyerere alisha semaukaburu siyo rangi bali matendo yako!

 

[pmwasyoke]

Idadi iliyotangazwa karibuni ni watu 30 waliuliwa na Polisi!

 

[BabuK]

Thirty-four people were killed in clashes between police and striking miners at a South African mine on Thursday, police said.
Police opened fire after failing to disperse strikers armed with clubs and machetes at the Marikana mine.
The Lonmin-owned platinum mine has been at the centre of a violent pay dispute, exacerbated by tensions between two rival trade unions.
The incident is one of the bloodiest police operations since apartheid.
Violence had already killed 10 people, including two police officers, since the strike began a week ago.
South African President Jacob Zuma has cut short a trip to Mozambique in order to visit the mine, which lies about 100km (62 miles) north-west of Johannesburg.
'Senseless violence'
The powerful National Union of Mineworkers put the figure at 36, according to AFP news agency.
Police were sent to break up some 3,000 miners 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.
One witness, Molaole Montsho, of the South African news agency Sapa, said police had first used water cannon, tear gas and stun grenades in an attempt to break up the protest.
"And then in the commotion - we were about 800m [2,600ft] from the scene - we heard gunshots that lasted for about two minutes," he said.
Police ministry spokesman Zweli Mnisi justified the actions of police, saying they had a right to defend themselves.
"We had a situation where people who were armed to the teeth, attack and killed others - even police officers," the spokesman said in a statement on Thursday night.
What should police do in such situations when clearly what they are faced with are armed and hardcore criminals who murder police?"
He said an investigation into the incident had been opened.
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.
A spokesman for President Jacob Zuma said he would be travelling to the site later on Friday.
"The president is concerned about the violent nature of the protest, especially given that the constitution and labour laws allow enough avenues to deal with issues, and is sympathetic to calls for a commission of inquiry," his spokesman Mac Maharaj said in a statement.
Earlier, a statement from the president said he was "shocked and dismayed at this senseless violence".
"We call upon the labour movement and business to work with government to arrest the situation before it deteriorates any further," it said.
Union rivalry

Thursday's incident came after several days of violent strikes in which 10 people were killed, including two police officers who were hacked to death.
The miners, who are currently earning between 4000-5000 rand ($484 - $605), say they want their salary increased to 12,500 ($1,512).
The stand-off has been exacerbated by rivalry between two trade unions, with the AMCU, a new group, seeking to challenge the dominance of the NUM.
The NUM is seen as being close to the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and the two groups were allies in the fight to end white minority rule, although relations between the ANC and the unions have worsened in recent years.
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 a strike.

Source: BBCNews

 

[Askari Kanzu]

Maisha ya mtu mweusi bado hayathaminiwi. Ubaguzi wa rangi bado umekithiri huko bondeni. Taratibu ubaguzi huo unasambaa hadi huku kwetu na tusipoangalia madhara yake yatakuwa makubwa. Makaburu wamejikita bongo kama wawekezaji wakati akili zao za ubaguzi wa rangi hazijabadilika!

 

[PakaJimmy]

Mauaji ya watoto huko SA ANC inasherehekea mpaka leo. Bila aibu, ANC imefanya hicho hicho except imefanya kwa wakubwa. AFADHALI YA MAKABURU. ANC IMEBADILISHA MAUAJI TOKA KWA WEUPE KWENDA KWA WEUSI

Kama huu ndio mwisho wa habari yako, nakuamuru sasa hv ukatafute nyama za kuijazia hii skeleton!

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

 

[Ab-Titchaz]