George Herald | Marikana miners await Malema

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Marikana miners await Malema
12:30 (GMT+2), Tue, 21 August 2012

NATIONAL NEWS - Marikana residents and striking miners converged at the Wonderkop squatter camp on Tuesday, awaiting the arrival of expelled ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema.

The strikers said they would go with Malema to the local police station to lay murder charges against police who shot dead 34 of their colleagues last Thursday.

"We will be marching from here to the police station with Malema to lay charges," said one worker.

Mining company Lonmin said earlier that over 33 percent of its staff turned up for work, 19.5 percent of whom were rock drillers.

Police kept a distance from the locals. A few policemen went up the hilltop and watched locals at the meeting nearby.

Armoured vehicles were patrolling the area.

On Tuesday morning, security blocked access to the premises, and cars transporting personnel were seen entering the mine every few minutes.

Employees were the only people allowed access after last week's protest action by mineworkers that saw 10 people, including two security guards and two police officers, killed.

The protest action culminated in clashes with the police on Thursday, in which 34 miners were shot dead. More than 70 were injured and 260 were arrested.

The protests were believed to be linked to rivalry between the National Union of Mineworkers and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union over recognition agreements at the mine.

Workers also wanted higher pay.

Source : Sapa