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| South Africa drops miners' murder charges – for now | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| South African prosecutors have provisionally withdrawn murder charges against 270 miners who had been accused of killing 34 striking colleagues shot dead by police, but said they could be recharged when investigations were complete. | South African prosecutors have provisionally withdrawn murder charges against 270 miners who had been accused of killing 34 striking colleagues shot dead by police, but said they could be recharged when investigations were complete. |
| Public anger had been mounting at the charges, made under an apartheid-era law under which the miners were deemed to have had a "common purpose" in the murder of their co-workers. | Public anger had been mounting at the charges, made under an apartheid-era law under which the miners were deemed to have had a "common purpose" in the murder of their co-workers. |
| The killing of the strikers last month at the Marikana mine, run by platinum producer Lonmin, was the worst such security incident since the end of white rule in 1994, and recalled scenes of apartheid-era state brutality. | The killing of the strikers last month at the Marikana mine, run by platinum producer Lonmin, was the worst such security incident since the end of white rule in 1994, and recalled scenes of apartheid-era state brutality. |
| "Final charges will only be made once all investigations have been completed. The murder charges against the current 270 suspects will be formally withdrawn provisionally in court," Nomgcobo Jiba, the acting national director of prosecutions, said in a televised news conference. | "Final charges will only be made once all investigations have been completed. The murder charges against the current 270 suspects will be formally withdrawn provisionally in court," Nomgcobo Jiba, the acting national director of prosecutions, said in a televised news conference. |
| In all, 44 people were killed in the recent wave of violence stemming from an illegal strike and union turf war. | In all, 44 people were killed in the recent wave of violence stemming from an illegal strike and union turf war. |
| Leading members of the ruling African National Congress had also expressed dismay at the charges as a public backlash grew. | Leading members of the ruling African National Congress had also expressed dismay at the charges as a public backlash grew. |
| "We are all surprised and confused by the National Prosecuting Authority's legal strategy," the ANC's chief whip in parliament said on Friday. | "We are all surprised and confused by the National Prosecuting Authority's legal strategy," the ANC's chief whip in parliament said on Friday. |
| President Jacob Zuma has seen his support eroded over the killings and the state's handling of the matter, with his enemies saying he is more interested in protecting the mining industry and powerful labour groups than the miners. | President Jacob Zuma has seen his support eroded over the killings and the state's handling of the matter, with his enemies saying he is more interested in protecting the mining industry and powerful labour groups than the miners. |