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CRUEL: Police Open Fire On Striking South African Miners, At Least 18 Killed
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.
The incident is believed to have occurred after police, in the process of laying down barricades of barbed wire, were outflanked by a crowd of 3,000 demonstrators.
Nine people had been killed prior to Thursday’s clashes in a spate of protest in the mining town, located northwest of Johannesburg. The platinum mine, owned by Lonmin PLC, has been the focal point of protests over wage disputes since last Friday.
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.
Fighting intensified over the weekend when two police officers were killed. Striking workers and local security guards have also been caught up in the violence.
Some 3,000 police massed in the area on Wednesday, some 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 have tumbled 6 percent following Thursday’s violence, bringing total losses since the outset of the strike to 13 percen.
REUTERS
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August 16, 2012 at 10:35 pm
And you can say Zambia Police is brutal. Panonona fye ba UPND panono, you start complaining! You see what the Zulu police can do? And you say SOUTH AFRICA has the best constitution in the world!
Constable
August 16, 2012 at 10:40 pm
It happens when you put women in charge of the police. With libongani…..it time to beat the shit out of these men. The new South African police chief is also a woman. VIVA WOMEN POWER!!!
voltron
August 16, 2012 at 10:59 pm
But pa south iyi system nabo iyakuyipaya nimiracal ukupwa. too bad for those miners and their families. rest in peace pa south balitendwa nokulanda nomba batambakofye. REST IN PEACE from ZAMBIA guys.
BK
August 16, 2012 at 11:16 pm
So sad,but we can not say much coz it is writen that in the last days these things will be happening,hence lets be prayfull these what you are seeing are the signs of the ends people have lost mercy on fellow human.take note this can also happen in zambia hence lets make sure this doasnt happen to you.
kakolwe
August 16, 2012 at 11:55 pm
I thought Tonga Bull was going to say ‘poor pf policies’ or 0f satanism caused this.
abaume abume
August 17, 2012 at 12:09 am
This again goes to show that we (Black people) still live in the dark ages. Other people would have used water cannons and rubber bullets, but most of all a minister would have gone to negotiate with both parties to get an agreement.
My observation of our people is that far too often we assume the seat but are not really in charge but we do not understand what accountability means nor what integrity is.
The least that should come out of this is the resignation of the minister of home affairs or whatever he or she is called. The prosecution of the police for manslaughter and dual prosecution and sacking of the commanding officer.
We should not be offended when other races call us savages! we can not blame any one for our ills.
Abaume balanda baleka. Uwamatwi omfwe
Sad man
August 17, 2012 at 1:53 am
All South African police,panyo panu,how can you mercilessly kill people like.You are a cursed police force.God will punish you.You are destined to hell ba swine.
john kabengele
August 17, 2012 at 4:09 am
South Africa is well known for this type of behaviour, if the do not kill you kill them, they are know for machets, protect yourself from this
mines
bob
August 17, 2012 at 6:01 am
Learn from that ba fikala who like making noise enyhow.
mulondwe muzungu
August 17, 2012 at 6:25 am
What is the difference between the pathetic ANC government and the Apartheid regime? South Africa is going down the drain under the ANC. Unemployment is record high, crime has escalated, social services for majority of black South Africans are poor. What is wrong with Africans?
oxmos
August 17, 2012 at 6:49 am
wait and see errors also in zambia soon,Libongani is also not compitent to handle situations…did you here how she answered the community in mutendere about a police who brutally beat that disfigured girl yestarday on muvi tv news?
mukombe
August 17, 2012 at 8:07 am
Why strike with machetes and spears taht is not a strike but war. And in a war situation people die.
zedian
August 17, 2012 at 8:21 am
sad
Prezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzo!!!!!!!!!!!
August 17, 2012 at 8:22 am
Sad development there too many lives were lost condolences to there families ,all in all the strike of machetes and spears meaning you’re armed and aim for war the end result is death.
Mutakila
August 17, 2012 at 8:32 am
OFFICIAL: Death toll rises to 30, confirmed by Police Minister – Nathi Mthethwa
njobvu leonard
August 17, 2012 at 9:25 am
this is what i call bullshit, the police were not suppose to do such a thing instead they could have maintained peace and calm the situation at hand other than killing.
vuka 1
August 17, 2012 at 9:41 am
Its sad that ppl died,bt wt u shud realise is that strikers startd firin first.ppl shud stop takin police for granted.police were there to keep the stuation calm,bt ofcourse a few ppl had their own ideas n decided bring short guns n any weapon they cud find.As of nw 45 ppl are reported to ve died
fekam
August 17, 2012 at 9:55 am
Life is precious. Properties can be acquired and disposed off but life can never be acquired. I’m fully aware and alive to the fact that, law and order should be maintained but taking ones life is CRIMINAL-FELONY. May my sins be forgiven as He forgives life takers
pompizo
August 17, 2012 at 10:08 am
Now this is news. Not the one chinaman who died in Maamba.
Bigben!!
August 17, 2012 at 10:22 am
You see you fools that support no sense by HH this is what you get from violence behaviour!! And you call the fool a HERO
Fault Finder
August 17, 2012 at 10:27 am
Seeing live pictures of those killings, one would think it is a war movie. But it was real. Live bullets on productive workers. And the South African govenment will pay those policemen. I can’t go on…
umuntu
August 17, 2012 at 10:31 am
Ukwipayana is their culture ku S.A. Why should this come as a surprise. And please give us local news, who cares about S.A when they can’t report a thing on their news about Zambia or any other nation.
mawada
August 17, 2012 at 11:07 am
the killing spirit of shaka still lingers in south africa i hope lozis didnt bring that with them to zambia
Taliban
August 17, 2012 at 11:53 am
This police officers are animals why why, please send them Siria or Iraq to go and fight war.Heartless idiots…..
Bandawe
August 17, 2012 at 12:19 pm
Those of you who are familiar with the police training syllabus, how do you maintain law and order when encountered by a group armed with spears, short guns and machetes?
nicola
August 17, 2012 at 12:28 pm
so upnd AND YOUR CHOKALA HH be careful, it will happen to you very soon.
MUNYELO PWETE!
August 17, 2012 at 1:30 pm
@ Bandawe
You apply the principle of proportionality! If someone threatens you with a gun but you quickly draw yours and smash his balls, you are safe and the law is on your side!
Zeb Mpingannjira
August 17, 2012 at 1:47 pm
Police have their rules of engagement and need no politician to tell them, those who endager cadres, please learn some lessons here!!!
Mmalawi weni weni
August 17, 2012 at 1:59 pm
Why striking with machetes, spears, shotguns? It was war and Police Officers responded. They r also human beings, bread winners. The strikers were armed.
Manyi ambuzi mchimwene wake wa Munyelo Pwete and Janet C.
August 17, 2012 at 2:05 pm
@ Munyelo Pwete; I agree with you bro. Why carrying machetes, spears? Let the lifeless bodies be buried. Life is precious.
Caleb
August 17, 2012 at 2:56 pm
34 dead and 78 injured – eNews channel; honestly there is no any other way……….so sad. The police has just increase numbers of widows and children without their fathers.
Vincent Nyalugwe
August 17, 2012 at 4:46 pm
Sharpeville over and over