PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
South African Police offer defence over mining massacre
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) - Police at Lonmin's mine in South Africa’s North West have reacted to the widespread condemnation of the killing of at least 18 miners Thursday, saying they did their best in trying to defuse a volatile situation.
“Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa is now considering requesting the President to institute a full inquiry into this whole situation, not just around what happened today but holistically at this situation," said his spokesperson, Zweli Mnisi.
He questioned what authorities should do when confronted with armed and hardcore criminals who murder police.
Police sought to disperse the armed workers who had gathered on a hill, in the area that had already seen 10 deaths in violent protests the past week.
Mnisi said police initially tried to peacefully disperse the crowd, to the point of even using water cannons and teargas, but this did not help.
The action of the police, who fired live shots directly at the miners, killing at least 18 of them, was caught on video.
President Jacob Zuma, who has arrived in Maputo for this weekend’s SADC summit in Mozambique, has expressed his shock and sadness at the loss of life.
He urged all stakeholders to remain calm.
Meanwhile, Lonmin mines’ management are treating developments at the mine with the utmost seriousness, the company's chairperson said in a statement.
“The South African Police Service have been in charge of public order and safety on the ground since the violence between competing labour factions erupted over the weekend," said chairperson Roger Phillimore.
"It goes without saying that we deeply regret the further loss of life in what is clearly a public order rather than labour related dispute,” he said.
-0- PANA CU/SEG 17Aug2012
“Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa is now considering requesting the President to institute a full inquiry into this whole situation, not just around what happened today but holistically at this situation," said his spokesperson, Zweli Mnisi.
He questioned what authorities should do when confronted with armed and hardcore criminals who murder police.
Police sought to disperse the armed workers who had gathered on a hill, in the area that had already seen 10 deaths in violent protests the past week.
Mnisi said police initially tried to peacefully disperse the crowd, to the point of even using water cannons and teargas, but this did not help.
The action of the police, who fired live shots directly at the miners, killing at least 18 of them, was caught on video.
President Jacob Zuma, who has arrived in Maputo for this weekend’s SADC summit in Mozambique, has expressed his shock and sadness at the loss of life.
He urged all stakeholders to remain calm.
Meanwhile, Lonmin mines’ management are treating developments at the mine with the utmost seriousness, the company's chairperson said in a statement.
“The South African Police Service have been in charge of public order and safety on the ground since the violence between competing labour factions erupted over the weekend," said chairperson Roger Phillimore.
"It goes without saying that we deeply regret the further loss of life in what is clearly a public order rather than labour related dispute,” he said.
-0- PANA CU/SEG 17Aug2012
