Mourners remember shot miners
Grieving families attend a memorial service at the Lonmin platinum mine near Rustenburg for 34 striking miners killed by police, as South Africa asked who gave the orders and who must be blamed.
Services were held nationwide to honour all those killed violently in a country with one of the world’s highest murder and rape rates. More than 1,000 people attended the service in Marikana arranged by the government.
President Jacob Zuma called on the nation to commemorate not only the miners but all victims of South Africa’s violence.
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Hide AdThirty-four miners were killed last Thursday when police opened fire on charging strikers.
The day should be an opportunity for the nation to “mourn and promote a violence-free society”, Mr Zuma said. The president has demanded that mine operators provide decent homes and sanitation for workers.