* Memorial at “Hill of Horror’ where police killed 34 miners
* Zuma faces political pressure over pay, policing
* AMCU stages rally after memorial, calls for wage increases
* Industry fears contagion throughout S.Africa mines
By David Dolan
MARIKANA, South Africa, Aug 23 (Reuters) – South Africans
held a memorial service on Thursday at a mine where police shot
dead 34 strikers, bloodshed that revived memories of
apartheid-era violence and laid bare workers’ anger over
enduring inequalities since the end of white rule.
Some 500 people crammed into a marquee pitched at the
platinum mine, near what has been dubbed the “Hill of Horror”
where police opened fire on striking miners in the deadliest
security incident since apartheid ended in 1994.
Crowds spilled out into the scorched, dusty fields outside,
listening to hymns and prayers. Women wrapped in blankets wept
and mourners placed flowers at the scene. Other memorials took
place around the country, including in downtown Johannesburg.
“Such a killing of people, of children, who haven’t done
anything wrong and they didn’t have to die this way,” said Baba
Goloza whose two sons died. He blamed mine owner Lonmin
for not taking care of its workers at its Marikana mine,
northwest of Johannesburg.
Continued…
