Post date: Sep 04, 2012 6:53:11 AM
S. Africa-Miner Release -- S. Africa releases first group of Marikana miners
CCTV BEIJING - A local South Africa court on Monday released the first group of the 270 arrested Marikana miners, following the withdrawal of murder charges against them.
About 162 Marikana miners were set free on warnings by the Garankuwa Magistrate's Court, north of Pretoria on Monday afternoon.
State prosecutor Nigel Carpenter confirmed the murder and attempted murder charges against the 270 arrested miners were formally withdrawn.
On August 16, a shooting out took place as police attempted to disperse several thousand striking miners at the Marikana mine in the northern province of the North West, leaving 34 miners dead, 78 other injured and 270 arrested.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) last Thursday charged 270 miners with the murder, attempted murder, public violence, illegal gathering as well as possession of dangerous weapons.
However, the murder charges against the 270 miners were widely criticized in the following days.
On Sunday, the NPA announced it would drop murder charges against the 270 arrested Marikana miners.
Those released miners returned to the Marikana mine Monday evening.
However, it's been another day of unrest at mines in South Africa. While prosecutors battled to sort out the logistics of releasing some of the 270 Marikana miners, violence broke out at the Aurora mine in Springs, east of Johannesburg. Four people were believed to have been shot at the mine, when security guards opened fire with rubber bullets.
These workers said their decision to embark on an illegal strike was not just about money. They said although many of them were tired of earning so-called peanuts, the main reason they were on strike was because they had lost faith in the leaders of the National Union of Mineworkers.
"We're not looking for peanuts. We're looking for more money. I think twelve thousand to thirteen thousand could be much better," said a miner.
They were accusing the top five leaders of the trade union at their mine of allegedly stealing money from them, because they recently deducted money from workers' salaries for a funeral policy without having consulted them.
"We (do) not strike for money. We strike for our leadership. We want our leaders to come to step down so that we can elect another leadership," Julius Malema, former ANC youth leader.
Ousted ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema who recently urged mine workers to make South Africa's mines ungovernable, told the workers to demand a 12-and-a half-thousand Rands take-home salary, the same amount being sought by protesters at the embattled Marikana Platinum Mine.
Meanwhile, the South African government has reiterated its call for all those involved in the miners' strike, to act responsibly, saying now was not the time for provocative statements and grandstanding, but a time for healing the nation.
More downloads available at http://newscontent.cctv.com
For any questions please call +86-10-63969499, or email [email protected]. If you want to learn more, please go to the CCTV website at http://newscontent.cctv.com.
© Copyright CCTV. The content in this story, including video and script is provided by China Central Television (CCTV) and is copyright CCTV. Thomson Reuters does not guarantee the accuracy of, or endorse the views or opinions given in, this package. THIS STATEMENT SUPERSEDES ALL OTHER STATEMENTS RELATING TO COPYRIGHT ATTACHED TO THIS CONTENT.