MAIL & GUARDIAN (South Africa), BBC NEWS (UK), CNN (USA), AL JAZEERA (Qatar), RFI (France)
JOHANNESBURG – Events are taking place across South Africa today to mourn the 44 people killed in recent violence at the northwestern Marikana platinum mine, reports CNN.
Politicians, religious leaders, workers and members of the local community are attending a memorial service at a church near the mine to commemorate the victims, says the BBC News.
At least 70,000 people are expected to take part in the ceremonies but the President of South Africa Jacob Zuma will not be attending the official service, according to The Mail & Guardian.
The clashes started on August 10 during a pay rise strike at the Lonmin mine, explains Al Jazeera.
Police opened fire on the strikers, killing 34 miners. Ten other people, including two policemen, were also killed.
The memorial service comes as two other platinum mines in the nation’s mining heartland echoed Lonmin workers, signaling spreading instability and labor discontent, reports CNN.
Mine workers gathered at nearby Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum Mine on Wednesday to voice their discontent.
Visiting the Marikana mine on Wednesday, Zuma told workers that he “felt their pain” and promised a thorough investigation of the shootings, adds BBC News.
