North West - President Jacob Zuma must order a probe into the shooting deaths of more than 30 striking Lonmin mineworkers on a hilltop in Rustenburg, Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa said on Friday.
“It is with great regret... and shock... that this (protest) resulted in a loss of lives,” said Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) president Joseph Mathunjwa.
He said the killings could have been avoided and called on the nation to mourn those who died.
Amcu would assist with funeral arrangements where it could.
The union believed the week-long labour protest should have been treated with sensitivity.
He began a news briefing in Johannesburg by asking that a moment's silence be observed.
Amcu and the National Union of Mineworkers are believed to be in a wrangle over union membership at the platinum mine.
The workers, who have also reportedly demanded higher wages, made their base on the Wonderkop hilltop, earn the mine, earlier this week.
Police opened fire on them on Thursday afternoon while trying to disperse the group, many of whom were armed.
The police ministry Mnisi said the final death toll had yet to be confirmed, but that “over 30” people were believed to have been killed. The National Union of Mineworkers said 36 people had died.
Another 10 people - including two police officers, two security guards and three NUM shop stewards - have been killed in separate incidents since the start of an illegal strike last Friday. - Sapa