This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19438343
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Marikana murder charges: South Africa minister wants explanation | Marikana murder charges: South Africa minister wants explanation |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| South Africa's justice minister has demanded an explanation after 270 miners were charged with the murder of their colleagues who were shot by police. | South Africa's justice minister has demanded an explanation after 270 miners were charged with the murder of their colleagues who were shot by police. |
| The decision had "induced a sense of shock, panic and confusion" among South Africans, Jeff Radebe said. | The decision had "induced a sense of shock, panic and confusion" among South Africans, Jeff Radebe said. |
| State prosecutors charged the miners under the apartheid-era "common purpose" doctrine. | State prosecutors charged the miners under the apartheid-era "common purpose" doctrine. |
| The decision has already been condemned by constitutional lawyers. | The decision has already been condemned by constitutional lawyers. |
| In a statement, Mr Radebe said that under the constitution, the justice minister "must exercise final responsibility over the prosecuting authority". | In a statement, Mr Radebe said that under the constitution, the justice minister "must exercise final responsibility over the prosecuting authority". |
| He said he had therefore asked the head of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) "to furnish me with a report explaining the rationale behind such a decision". | |
| Police shot dead 34 miners two weeks ago during a strike at the Marikana mine, owned by Lonmin, the world's third largest platinum producer, sparking a national outcry. | |
| Police said they opened fire after being threatened by a crowd of protesters who advanced towards them, armed with machetes. | Police said they opened fire after being threatened by a crowd of protesters who advanced towards them, armed with machetes. |
| The 270 miners, six of whom remain in hospital, were arrested during the protests. | The 270 miners, six of whom remain in hospital, were arrested during the protests. |
| They were charged on Thursday, with the prosecutors arguing they were part of the crowd whose actions provoked the police into opening fire. | They were charged on Thursday, with the prosecutors arguing they were part of the crowd whose actions provoked the police into opening fire. |
| Former African National Congress youth leader Julius Malema condemned the decision as "madness". | |
| "The policemen who killed those people are not in custody, not even one of them. This is madness," said Mr Malema, who was expelled from the African National Congress (ANC) earlier this year following a series of disagreements with President Jacob Zuma. |