At least 30 killed as S. African police open fire on thousands of striking miners (PHOTOS)

Get short URL

Published time: August 16, 2012 14:46
Edited time: August 17, 2012 11:23

A policeman gestures in front of some of the dead miners after they were shot outside a South African mine in Rustenburg, 100 km (62 miles) northwest of Johannesburg, August 16, 2012. (Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko)

Tags

Africa, Police, Protest

South African police opened fire at striking miners at the Marikana platinum mine, killing at least 30 protesters. The incident became the bloodiest industrial dispute in South Africa in the 20 years since the end of the country's Apartheid regime.

South African Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa confirmed the death toll: "A lot of people were injured and the number keeps on going up."

The killings occurred after police, attempting to lay down barricades of barbed wire, were outflanked by a crowd of 3,000 demonstrators armed with machetes and spears.

Nine people were killed prior to Thursday’s clashes in a wave of protest in the mining town, located 100 km northwest of Johannesburg. The platinum mine, owned by Lonmin PLC, has been the focal point of strikes and violence since last Friday stemming from wage disputes.

Fighting intensified over the weekend when two police officers were killed. Striking workers and local security guards also became embroiled in the violence.

Some 3,000 police massed in the area on Wednesday wearing riot gear and supported by helicopters. Demonstrators were reinforced on Thursday by a group of women pledging to stand by their husbands in their demand for increased wages.

Lonmin announced that the disruption means the company is unlikely to meet its 2012 production targets. Shares in the company tumbled 6 percent following Thursday’s violence, bringing total losses since the outset of the strike to 13 percent.

The miners are reportedly demanding a raise in wages to over $1,000 a month.

Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko

A miner runs as they were shot at by the police outside a South African mine in Rustenburg, 100 km (62 miles) northwest of Johannesburg, August 16, 2012. (Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko)

Policemen fire at striking miners outside a South African mine in Rustenburg, 100 km (62 miles) northwest of Johannesburg, August 16, 2012. (Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko)

AFP Photo/Str

Comments (58)

John (unregistered) 25.09.2012 19:20

All i saw in these comments? bla bla bla apartheid, slaves, U.S. exploit bla bla bla.
Those miners had weapons. In Europe I never saw a "peacefuly" protest with weapons. Those miners deserve it! Period!

Undo

Peter (unregistered) 30.08.2012 10:02

This incident was a tradgedy but I feel sorry for the cops as well... you see the sad part is that no-one cares about the fact that 2 police officers died before police retaliated! it is simple ... you try kill a police officer ... and he will try kill you ... Its called self defense! i can tell you now ... its easy for us sitting at our computers looking at shocking pictures to judge the police but try doing what they do ... for less than 4000 rand I might add! Stand in a small line armed with rubber bullets and stare down a crowd of 4000+ armed and angry civilians. Dont sit and judge guys ... The police did what was necessary to defend themselves and the innocents that the "peaceful" strike was going to injur or kill. Learn your lesson guys and if you want to strike peacefully ... then leave your damn spears and pangas at home! To the police ... guys I feel for you ... you are the most underappreciated department in south africa but keep trying ... there are some that appreciate how difficult your job really is.

Undo

Ibarruri 20.08.2012 12:11

what revulsion the mine workers massacre evokes!Rebranding leftist ANC as ruling class was a deal that amounted to dressing its conformist leaders in the borrowed garb of their fascist apartheid prediscesors, preserving the private property basis of the society and upholding bourgeoise ideology and scuttling the economic emancipation of the proleterian masses.What an insult to the fallen freedom fighters! What a despicable betrayal , what fratricidal - gloom for long suffering Africa, Zuma!

Undo

View all comments (58)