South Africans wept, sang somber hymns and prayed at a memorial service Thursday to mourn 44 people killed during days of labor protests in the nation's mining heartland.
Traditional leaders and
church officials in flowing robes led the service near the site of the
clashes at the Marikana platinum mine.
Some grief-stricken mourners fainted, and had to be carried out of the ceremony by relatives and friends.
Various government
officials attended the ceremony, but police officers were not present at
the request of the miners. Of the dozens killed, 34 died in a hail of
gunfire last week from police officers, who said they shot at the
machete-armed protesters in self defense.
Memorials took place nationwide to mourn the dozens killed at Lonmin -- the world's third-largest platinum producer.
Protests started two
weeks ago when thousands of rock drillers went on strike to demand
higher wages. Lonmin rejected the demand and called the strike illegal.
Violence intensified
August 16, when police fired live ammunition into a crowd of protesters,
killing 34 people and sparking a national outcry. The protesters armed
with machetes and sticks were threatening to the officers, authorities
said.
Ten others died in the earlier days of the protests, including two police officers who were hacked to death.
A rivalry between two
unions that wield a lot of power and influence in the nation added to
the tension. The unions, accused of trying to outdo each other in
negotiating wages, denied instigating the clashes.
The memorial service
comes as two more platinum companies in the northwest echoed Lonmin
workers, signaling spreading instability and labor discontent.
About 1,000 workers
gathered at nearby Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum Mine on Wednesday to voice
their discontent. They returned to work a day later.
"We congratulate the
workers for refusing to be misled by people with political ambitions and
for returning to work" said Sydwell Dokolwana, a regional secretary for
the company.
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