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OFF DUTY: The miners refused to go on shift yesterday pending the outcome of their representatives' meeting with mine management. Photo: Reuters

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Testifying in court yesterday, investigating officer Gideon van Zyl, who is heading a team probing the deaths of the 10 people killed prior to the massacre - including security guards and policemen - said Lonmin management had made it clear those in custody would not be re-employed.

The news of the miners' imminent dismissal follows Lonmin's decision to hold back an ultimatum the company issued to workers to return to work.

It had heeded a request by President Jacob Zuma to allow the nation to observe a week of mourning.

Meanwhile, striking Lonmin workers refused to report for duty yesterday and instead gathered at the Nkaneng informal settlement in Wonderkop outside Rustenburg.

They sang liberation songs while awaiting the outcome of a meeting between Lonmin management and their representatives. Police officers in armoured vehicles kept watch from a distance.

Workers have been on strike for almost two weeks, demanding that their salaries be increased From about R4000 to R12500 a month.

Lonmin's management yesterday said only 13% of employees returned to work, citing intimidation. Over the weekend 57% of workers reported for duty.

The Friends of the ANC Youth League - formed to support expelled league president Julius Malema - said it was confident that the murder and attempted murder cases opened by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate would get to the bottom of the Marikana massacre.

The group's spokesman Floyd Shivambu said they would monitor the cases, including those opened last week by Malema, who was accompanied by mine workers.

The shooting incident left 34 miners dead and many others seriously injured.

National police spokesman Captain Dennis Adriao declined to comment on the alleged assaults of detained miners or allegations that some miners were shot in the back.

In the week leading up to the shooting of the miners, 10 people were killed by the strikers, including two security guards who were set alight in their patrol vehicle, and two policemen who were monitoring the situation.

Shivambu said the group had no faith in the commission that was established by President Jacob Zuma, charging that these - like the arms deal inquiry - lacked integrity and "can last forever".

Retired high court judge Ian Farlam was appointed by Zuma to head the judicial commission of inquiry which will probe the role and conduct of the police, the NUMand the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union in the Lonmin tragedy - as well as the Department of Mineral Resources or any other government department or agency in relation to the incidents.

The ANC's national executive committee (NEC) has asked that the shooting in Marikana not be used for political gain, secretary general Gwede Mantashe said yesterday after the ANC held a special NEC meeting.

"The special NEC appeals to all South Africans that nobody must use the tragedy for political and opportunistic reasons," Mantashe said in a statement.

"It [the NEC] expressed its support for the judicial commission of inquiry and . the composition of the inter-ministerial committee by government."

The inter-ministerial committee on the Marikana tragedy continues to maintain its presence in Marikana and surrounding areas.

Committee spokesman Harold Maloka said yesterday that the team would be stationed in various areas around Marikana until the work they were assigned was done. - Additional reporting by Sapa

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Sat May 25 17:14:11 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 28, 2012

ndhandhazi

Julius will employ them.
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Aug 28, 2012

seutullamakunutu

Zuma is visiting Botswana despite the crisis in the mines ? The mission is to make sure that the case Malema opened dissappears in thin air. Zuma is always up to no good, he never trusted judges, wanted to control the judicial system for people who went through a pile of books and equip themselves academically, forgetting that they do not need his permission to make decisions, they went to school but not elected.Zuma does not listen to his legal advisers people he makes decisions and inform them later most of the time the damage is done.
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Aug 28, 2012

seutullamakunutu

Julius did not cause the killings at marikana, he went there after tragedy like any other politician.
Cyril has been quiet knowing that our people are being exploited, he should be ashamed of himself. I lost trust in him since this marikana massacre now he claims all are responsible. HE IS responsible for not standing up for a better wage for miners, he knows this union representation his experience should have benefited the poor miners but not exploit them to make lonmin richer.
Now we can see what the late steve tshwete was saying about cyril .....

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Aug 28, 2012

Flemza

Thats nothing , why worry Malema is there to become there guardian Angel again , he will come and talk to them and by virtue of that talk , they will all have jobs , so miners don`t worry Malema is there
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Aug 28, 2012

MommaC

I really am disgusted at the lows that our journalists go to to get headlines.
Where does waiting for the conclusion of the court case suddenly morph into a blanket firing? Of course those who are convicted of murder or violent intimidation should be fired. That is, however, for the court to decide - not hack newspaper writers
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Aug 28, 2012

CharlesTaylor

The opportunist Malema just jump to any occasion that can put him on lame light. What a desperate move by a desperate person. He is dying a slow death. Come Mangaung he will be silenced forever, just like Mbazima Shilowa.
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Aug 28, 2012

Flemza

@ CharlesTaylor
The opportunist Malema just jump to any occasion that can put him on lame light. What a desperate move by a desperate person. He is dying a slow death. Come Mangaung he will be silenced forever, just like Mbazima Shilowa
==================================================================================I like this , is Mbazima still there , if you are still there Mbazima , reply to my blog , I just want to know how you are doing , and please advise Malema before he falls in the same shoe you fell in
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Aug 28, 2012

Ompas

Seutulla,my sis,just tell me what will malema do to help this poor mine workers?maybe i dont understand or miss the point.
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Aug 28, 2012

BRAINLOT

This will only cause more problems, those who are hired will become targets and there will be more bloodshed, what happened to innocent till proven guilty. This shows that overseas companies only care about profits ( we can replace you anytime attitude) they fail to give the workers a sense of job security they only care about you for as long as you are profitable if not they discard you
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Aug 28, 2012

BRAINLOT

illegal mining will be increasing at an alarming rate ZAMA ZAMA ndunas are gonna start advertising vacancies
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