Amcu members gather on hilltop

File picture - Policemen keep watch on the protesters outside a South African mine in Rustenburg, 100 km (62 miles) northwest of Johannesburg, August 16, 2012. South African police opened fire against thousands of striking miners armed with machetes and sticks at Lonmin's Marikana platinum mine, leaving several bloodied corpses lying on the ground. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

File picture - Policemen keep watch on the protesters outside a South African mine in Rustenburg, 100 km (62 miles) northwest of Johannesburg, August 16, 2012. South African police opened fire against thousands of striking miners armed with machetes and sticks at Lonmin's Marikana platinum mine, leaving several bloodied corpses lying on the ground. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

Published Aug 23, 2012

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Rustenburg -

The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) sang war songs on a hill on Thursday, near where police shot 34 miners dead last week.

“We are paying tribute to our fallen heroes,” said Alfred Bele, one of the leaders. Expelled ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema joined them.

Wearing green T-shirts, they spoke out against their rival, the National Union of Mineworkers.

“Down with NUM down,” some workers shouted.

Religious leaders prayed on the hill. Earlier in the day, Amcu held its own memorial service for the 34 miners at an Impala Platinum mine near Rustenburg.

“It's not a separate memorial service. We are still going to the Lonmin memorial service. It was just because of the number of people who wanted to attend and it's a distance between Implats and Lonmin,” Amcu secretary Jeff Mphahlele said.

“Fortunately, management agreed to give us a day off for those workers to attend.” - Sapa

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