“We are shocked and dismayed at this senseless violence. We believe there is enough space in our democratic order for any dispute to be resolved through dialogue without any breaches of the law or violence,” Zuma said.

“We call upon the labour movement and business to work with government to arrest the situation before it deteriorates any further.” 

Zuma said he had instructed law enforcement agencies to do everything possible to bring the situation under control and to bring the perpetrators of violence to book.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the families of all who have lost their lives since the beginning of this violent action.” 

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa’s office said in a statement on Thursday that police at the mine did their best in a volatile situation.

“The Minister [Mthetwa] 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 spokesman Zweli Mnisi.

“Now what should police do in such situations when clearly what they are faced with are armed and hardcore criminals who murder police?” 

A shoot-out between police and strikers at the mine left at least 18 people dead or wounded on Thursday.

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.

Such efforts were countered with the murder of police officers, he said.

“We had a situation where people who were armed to the teeth, attacked and killed others even police officers and, for the record, one of the firearms used was that of our deceased police officer.” 

The behaviour of those who were involved in such criminal activity was condemned, with it disguised under the banner of a right to illegally protest, accompanied by violence.

Mnisi called for restraint and that if demands needed to be raised with whoever, that it be done within the framework and respect for the Constitution.

The ministry offered their condolences to the families of the deceased and a speedy recovery to the injured.

“What happened today at Lonmin is something that was unfortunate and should not have happened in post democracy South Africa because to protest is a legal and constitutional right of any citizen.” 

However, such rights did not imply people should be barbaric, intimidatory and hold illegal gatherings, said Mnisi.

• President Jacob Zuma has arrived in Maputo, Mozambique, to lead a South African delegation to an SADC regional meeting, the international relations department said on Thursday.

“The SADC Summit is a statutory meeting of the 15-nation regional body which convenes annually in August. The meeting considers matters from different sectors for decision and for noting,” the department said in a statement.

“The Summit also examines the performance of SADC institutions and reviews the overall implementation of the regional body’s socio-economic programmes.” 

This would be the first time the heads of state and government within SADC had met since the election of Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as the chairwoman of the African Union commission.

“At the Summit, South Africa is expected to report on its Chairpersonship of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation and the challenges ahead,” the department said.

The summit begins on Friday.

Comments

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Wed May 22 06:07:47 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 17, 2012

MicaParis

The Unions have got a constitutional mandate to avoid embarrassment which they had caused our poor workers on this issue, this amount to total Union failure and as such I expect Comrade Baleni to resign as he had shamed our workers to the core level of irritation and yet he expect Zuma to make him a Minister after Mangaung!?.
For how long are we going to tolerate running our Government and institution through deliberate hypocritical purpose and deceive?
We need to take workers serious, Unions are not supposed to be part of Government administration, nobody can afford to serve two masters simultaneously! If we take our workers serious, than we have to promulgate a legislation that will demarcate the Government responsibility and Unions mandate in public service.
Why do we have to let the Government to rule the Unions by radar and gunpoint in exchange of fat Government posts and tenders while our workers who are paying hefty Union fees always get stuck at the bottom in destitute while the Union leaders ascend to the top Government throne!?
The government has its shortcomings, but the core aim is to learn from all those mistakes and constructively critique them and take lessons in shaping the society that we all envisage.

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Aug 17, 2012

1tsotsi

Mxm!! What does zumas government know about caring for the workers? Such a shame to be called a south african
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Aug 17, 2012

Senyobinyobi

"Deteriorate further"

======================================
can someone explain right the meaning of this phrase
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Aug 17, 2012

Bahaeso

Senyonyobi : deterriorate furtrher means worsen in plain English. 1Tsotsi , it looks like you have nothing to say. The organisers of the wild cat strike must be arrested and tried for misleading the workers. The nyanga who deceived these workers by telling them that they will be invicible must also be charged becasues the workers really believed that they are invicible.
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Aug 17, 2012

Budapat

SOUTH AFRICA MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO CARRY ANY KIND OF WEAPON DURING PROTEST AND OR MARCH, NUM AND AMCA SHOULD GIVE CLARITY BECAUSE THEY MOBILISED THIS SAD ENDING
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Aug 17, 2012

GrRRRpha

And exactly everytime there is a serious issue the president leaves the country. He must take cue from Obama. Last months shooting on the opening night of Darknight made Obama cancell all his engagements and mourn with the nation. Issueing a statement, Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
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Aug 17, 2012

sabza007

These people were not prepared to listen to anyone, they wanted blood spill and thats what they got. Sad as it is, but its the fact.
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Aug 17, 2012

RobinH

Ag eff off Jakes. You have an extraordinary talent for being "out of the country" when anything vaguely serious goes down. No suggestion of possibly cutting short or cancelling your jaunt to Mozambique. Your percieved profile is far too important to be upset by little things like the death of 30 plus miners. Go and play with your spear, man.
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Aug 17, 2012

HALFWISE

"I know what I'm doing."


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Aug 17, 2012

Shredder

I saw mabherete in action on TV.
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