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A VILLAGE GRIEVES: Family members weep during the funeral of one of the Marikana victims, Thembinkosi Gwelani, at Lusikisiki in Eastern Cape. PHOTO: LULAMILE FENI

LINE OF FIRE: a policeman fires at protesters.

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Nineteen of the victims were buried on Saturday and five yesterday. Another five will be buried next weekend, while two victims were buried last weekend. Eastern Cape lost 31 people in the shootings by the police. Many of the victims were not miners but job seekers.

Eastern Cape MEC for social development Pemmy Majodina, who has been at the forefront of organising the funerals, said the burials went well and there were no problems.

"All the funerals proceedings were without problems, though there was finger-pointing from aggrieved mineworkers. But government officials who attended managed to calm them down as there is a commission formed to investigate the shootings," said Majodina.

The burials were attended by government representatives from Parliament and local municipalities. Some ministers were sent to neighbouring countries like Lesotho and Swaziland, from where some of the dead mine-workers came.

One of the victims buried over the weekend was 27-year-old Thembinkosi Gwelani, of Lusikisiki's Kwelani village. Gwelani, who was not employed at the Lonmin mine, was reportedly killed while delivering food to protesting mineworkers.

In a sombre, yet moving ceremony, which was attended by Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane, villagers and mineworkers from North West described him as a quiet person.

Sebenzile Mntlaka, who travelled from the mine at Marikana to attend the funeral, said Gwelani was looking forward to a day when he would be employed at the mine. "It is sad that he had to die this way," Mntlaka said.

"He died for us as we were protesting for better salaries. He died while delivering food to us."

Another miner, Siphosoxolo Mabena, said Gwelani was always at the mine's gate looking for work.

"You could see that Gwelani came to Rustenburg to work. We knew that he was going to get what he was looking for, but the police killed him."

Gwelani's younger sister, 18-year-old Zikhona, said no one in the family worked and Gwelani was their hope.

"Because we are struggling, at times we have to go to bed on empty stomachs. My brother had no choice but to go to look for a job in the mines. We will sadly miss him and we hope that the government will give us support," said Zikhona.

Other ministers who were in Eastern Cape included Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini, who attended a funeral in Matatiele, and State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele, who attended another funeral at Lusikisiki.

Chabane reminded mourners that President Jacob Zuma had set up a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the killings.

"The country needs answers on what really happened and we are helping to find the truth through the commission," said Chabane. "In four months' time, the report will be released and we ask for calm."

Comments

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Thu May 23 19:02:10 SAST 2013 ::

Sep 3, 2012

Maverick1

NPA MUST NOT PUT THE BLAME ON THESE MINE WORKERS. HE MUST ALSO BLAME THE POLICE
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Sep 3, 2012

candilious

Many of the victims were not miners but job seekers. Huh? "He died for us as we were protesting for better salaries. He died while delivering food to us." confused now!!!!!


"You could see that Gwelani came to Rustenburg to work. We knew that he was going to get what he was looking for, but the police killed him."
______________________________________What an idiotic statement


RIP young soul but my believe you knew what was going down .........nobody is innocent in all this
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Sep 3, 2012

Mellow

One of the victims buried over the weekend was 27-year-old Thembinkosi Gwelani, of Lusikisiki's Kwelani village. Gwelani, who was not employed at the Lonmin mine, was reportedly killed while delivering food to protesting mineworkers.

Another miner, Siphosoxolo Mabena, said Gwelani was always at the mine's gate looking for work.

Gwelani's younger sister, 18-year-old Zikhona, said no one in the family worked and Gwelani was their hope.
............................................................................................................................
#teary eyes

Sad how all this mine big shots wants to make appearance at their funerals yet they failed to listen to their pleas just heart breaking
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Sep 3, 2012

Mellow

@Candy friendship why is it an idiotic statement while infact he was k.illed by policemen?Did I miss something or maybe am just emotional? And the guy didnt work at the mine and he was only there to deliver food so yes he was innocent
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Sep 3, 2012

candilious

@Mellow- Indeed but as i said nobody was innocent in tradegy


As for this statement:Gwelani's younger sister, 18-year-old Zikhona, said no one in the family worked and Gwelani was their hope.


These miners were at it for 2 solid weeks Mellow he could have waited for the dust to settle and then approach for a job again,which he had a far better chance of getting one. But he chose to stick with the thugs and their rediculous demands. No man making a mockery of the whole Masacre
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Sep 3, 2012

candilious

@Mel - idiotic meaning that he was there with the strikers day in and day out knowing the situation

We knew that he was going to get what he was looking for, but the police killed him." Just makes no sense so if infact he was not employed by the mine what would have happened then ???
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Sep 3, 2012

BlackSeed

He comes from Rustenburg; a Rich village where the Earth Farm suffer from the same sickness, manmade quakes looking for treasure.

Earth run red in deed – bloodshed all overall

Commerce is evil

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Sep 3, 2012

Mellow

@Candy I think by "We knew that he was going to get what he was looking for, but the police killed him" they were hoping he'll find the job obviously as he was always camping outside the mine's gate shows how desperate he was shame all the way from Cape nogal only to be k.illed like oohhh it breaks my heart girl just breaks it am sooo sad
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Sep 3, 2012

Mosquer

Shame!!!

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Sep 3, 2012

Motho-Makhetha

My neighbour from Ha Abia, Maseru Lesotho was buried this weekend. What is disheartening is he was not shot but driven over by a Nyala.
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