South Africans yesterday August 23 remembered dozens of miners shot dead at a platinum mine at Marikana near Rustenberg, about 114 km north west of Johannesburg on August 16, the South African Broadcasting Corporation, SABC said. In all, 44 people died after earlier clashes among rival unions of striking mine workers claimed the lives of 10 people.
Ahead of the memorial services, a traditional prayer was scheduled to ritually cleanse the spot where the 34 strikers were shot dead by police. Flags continued to fly at half mast as the nation joined families and colleagues of the late miners in remembering their loved ones. The workers have so far ignored an ultimatum by mine management to return to work, taking time to mourn their colleagues. The mine management has also committed itself to bear the cost of transporting and burying the 34 miners in their respective homes.
Yesterday’s official memorial service for victims of the incident at the Lonmin-owned mine that held at the site of the clashes, was led by the Minister in the Presidency, Collins Chabane. He was joined by members of an inter-ministerial committee investigating the massacre as well as ministers, religious and traditional leaders, and mine workers, CNN reported. The service at the Nkaneng Informal Settlement was conducted by clergymen from the South African Council of Churches. Earlier, Chabane had pleaded with people meeting with the striking miners to refrain from making inflammatory statements in respect for the dead.
The service at Marikana followed President Jacob Zuma's visit to the area on Wednesday August 22. The President’s visit was his first public appearance near the site of the shootings, though he had visited the mine hospital last Friday. His promises of mediation, however, failed to placate the workers, Reuters news agency said. Meanwhile, the price of platinum has leapt to its highest since May.
The memorial service came as two more platinum companies in the nation's mining heartland joined the strike at the Lonmin mine. Mine workers gathered at nearby Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum Mine on Wednesday to voice their discontent. At nearby Anglo American Platinum mine - across the street from Marikana - a group of workers gave management until today to respond to a list of demands. The company said workers have not threatened to go on strike yet.
