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Marikana mine conflict: South African clerics mediate South Africa's Jacob Zuma visits Marikana mine
(about 3 hours later)
Religious leaders have launched efforts to mediate an end to the conflict at South Africa's Marikana mine following deadly clashes last week. South Africa's President Jacob Zuma has visited the Lonmin-owned Marikana mine where police shot dead 34 striking workers last week.
A faith-based group said it had arranged "very cordial" talks between mining giant Lonmin and striking workers demanding higher pay. Angry protesters chanted "Down with the police" as Mr Zuma promised a thorough investigation into the killings.
Workers at another platinum mine also embarked on a strike on Wednesday. The miners embarked on a strike on 10 August to demand higher wages, forcing the mine's closure.
Police killed 34 miners at Marikana last week after accusing them of instigating violence. Religious leaders have brokered talks between management and workers to resolve the dispute.
South Africa's Nobel Peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu accused the police of carrying out a "massacre". Police opened fire on the strikers on Thursday, after accusing them of instigating violence.
The Bench Marks Foundation, a faith-based group which monitors corporate performance, said talks between Lonmin and worker representatives have been taking place since Monday. South Africa's Nobel Peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu Archbishop Tutu, in a column in South Africa's Business Report newspaper, said the violence reminded him of police behaviour during apartheid.
"So far the process was very cordial and both parties listened to each other," the organisation's chairman, Jo Seoka, said.
"Negotiations started... to give the workers a platform to present their grievances and demands."
'Reminiscent of apartheid'
The miners, who are currently earning between 4,000 and 5,000 rand ($484-$605) a month, say they want their salary increased to 12,500 rand ($1,512).
Mining has made South Africa the biggest economy on the African continent. But for many black South Africans the industry is a symbol of inequality and a legacy of the old system of racial segregation, or apartheid.
Most of the poorly paid miners are black and live in squalid housing. They see their richer compatriots - both black and white - enjoying a luxurious lifestyle they can only dream of.
The World Bank describes South Africa as one of the most unequal countries in the world and some say inequality has actually increased since the end of white rule in 1994.
That is why the populist South African politician, Julius Malema, drew applause from miners when he described the situation at the Marikana mine as a fight between capitalists and exploited workers. And it is why, beyond the tragic deaths, Marikana matters in South African politics.
On Wednesday, about 600 workers at the nearby Royal Bafokeng Platinum Mine in North West province also embarked on a strike to demand higher wages.
Rock drill operators, who led the Lonmin strike, gathered peacefully at the mine to demand a wage increase as a handful of police stood by, AFP news agency reports.
The strike at Marikana, which began on 10 August, was declared illegal by Lonmin, the world's third-largest platinum producer, and the mine was shut.
Clashes between strikers, some holding clubs and machetes, and police culminated on Thursday when officers armed with automatic rifles and pistols fired dozens of shots.
Archbishop Tutu, in a column in South Africa's Business Report newspaper, said the violence reminded him of police behaviour during apartheid.
"When we consigned apartheid to history, we said never again would it happen that our police and our soldiers would massacre our people," he said."When we consigned apartheid to history, we said never again would it happen that our police and our soldiers would massacre our people," he said.
However, he acknowledged that police faced a difficult job, as protests often turned violent.However, he acknowledged that police faced a difficult job, as protests often turned violent.
"When we march, we demand, we destroy and we loot. We care not whether our demands are reasonable, or what actions we take," Archbishop Tutu said."When we march, we demand, we destroy and we loot. We care not whether our demands are reasonable, or what actions we take," Archbishop Tutu said.
South Africa's President Jacob Zuma has promised to appoint a commission of inquiry into events that led to the killings. 'Under pressure'
Countrywide memorial services are due to take place on Thursday for the victims, after Mr Zuma declared a week of national mourning. On Wednesday, about 600 workers at the nearby Royal Bafokeng Platinum Mine in North West province also embarked on a strike to demand higher wages.
Rock drill operators, who led the Lonmin strike, gathered peacefully at the mine to demand a wage increase as a handful of police stood by, AFP news agency reports.
"The inquiry I have instituted will get to the bottom of what happened here," Mr Zuma told the strikers at Lonmin.
"Those saying our government gave orders to kill are misinformed because it will never be our policy to harm those we represent."
The BBC's Nomsa Maseko in South Africa's main city, Johannesburg, says Mr Zuma was under pressure to go to the mine.
Opposition leaders and the expelled youth leader of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party, Julius Malema, visited the mine on Tuesday.
Mr Malema, who has been campaigning for the nationalisation of mines, blamed Mr Zuma for the violence.
The Bench Marks Foundation, a faith-based group which monitors corporate performance, said it had organised talks between Lonmin and worker representatives.
"So far the process was very cordial and both parties listened to each other," the organisation's chairman, Jo Seoka, said.
"Negotiations started... to give the workers a platform to present their grievances and demands."
On Tuesday, Lonmin dropped its threat to fire workers if they failed to end their strike.
The miners say they are currently earning between 4,000 and 5,000 rand ($484-$605) a month and want their salary increased to 12,500 rand.
The company says most workers are paid about 10,500 rand, if bonuses are added.
Are you in the area? What do you think of the strike? Send us your comments using the form below.Are you in the area? What do you think of the strike? Send us your comments using the form below.