Rustenburg -
A murder and attempted murder docket has been opened following the shooting deaths of 34 people at Lonmin's Marikana mine, investigators said on Monday.
“We are investigating 34 counts of murder,” Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) spokesman Moses Dlamini said.
Another 32 counts of attempted murder were being investigated.
“This number will change... We would only add more counts as people come forward and say they were injured, or if we ascertain that they were injured.”
The figure of 32 was last updated a day after the August 16 shooting.
The police ministry said 34 people were killed and 78 injured when police officers opened fire to disperse strikers.
Another 10 people were killed in the week leading up to the shootout.
The protests were believed to be linked to rivalry between the National Union of Mineworkers and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union over recognition agreements. Workers also wanted higher wages.
The Friends of the Youth League was happy about the news.
“We welcome this development because we said that the establishment of the commission of inquiry... should not prevent 1/8a 3/8 criminal procedure process from being followed,” it said in a statement.
“We strongly believe that each and every murder committed since the beginning of the strike should be accounted for and those who killed be held liable by the state.”
The friends said they would monitor the case closely to ensure justice was done. - Sapa