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| South Africa's Jacob Zuma visits Marikana mine | South Africa's Jacob Zuma visits Marikana mine |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| South Africa's President Jacob Zuma has visited the Lonmin-owned Marikana mine where police shot dead 34 striking workers last week. | South Africa's President Jacob Zuma has visited the Lonmin-owned Marikana mine where police shot dead 34 striking workers last week. |
| Angry protesters chanted "Down with the police" as Mr Zuma promised a thorough investigation into the killings. | Angry protesters chanted "Down with the police" as Mr Zuma promised a thorough investigation into the killings. |
| The miners embarked on a strike on 10 August to demand higher wages, forcing the mine's closure. | The miners embarked on a strike on 10 August to demand higher wages, forcing the mine's closure. |
| Religious leaders have brokered talks between management and workers to resolve the dispute. | Religious leaders have brokered talks between management and workers to resolve the dispute. |
| Police opened fire on the strikers on Thursday, after accusing them of instigating violence. | Police opened fire on the strikers on Thursday, after accusing them of instigating violence. |
| 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. | 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. |
| "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. |
| 'Under pressure' | 'Under pressure' |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | "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." | "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 and address the workers. | |
| Opposition leaders and the expelled youth leader of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party, Julius Malema, visited the mine on Tuesday. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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." | "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. | 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 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. | 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. |