North West - Marikana miners who were released from custody on Monday have alleged they were chased and shot by police officers long after the initial shooting that was published or broadcast by the media.
They said police officers chased and fired at them with live rounds, while others fired at them side-on as they marched.
The 162 miners were freed on Monday after the charges of murder and attempted murder were provisionally withdrawn against all 270 miners in the Ga-Rankuwa Magistrate’s Court. The miners were released on free bail.
The rest of the miners are to be released when their residential addresses have been confirmed.
This follows the announcement made on Sunday by the acting national director of public prosecutions that the murder and attempted murder charges would be provisionally withdrawn and that the miners would be released on free bail.
Friends and relatives of the arrested miners came in their numbers to see their relatives and to welcome them after their release.
Although there was jubilation outside the court when the miners were released, the relatives of those who had not been released were saddened that they would not see them yet.
Miners who were specifically asked about the events that preceded their arrests described in detail how they saw fellow miners die in front of them.
One, Pakatsa Mpele, said a group of miners had eventually been cornered by the police and shot at close range.
“Look, a lot of things happened there that I cannot even say to you, because they make my heart boil when I think about them. Most of them happened even before the police shootings.
“When we were in custody we saw footage on television, but most of the things that happened were not there. There were police officers who were wearing army uniform shooting at us from the sides.
“I remember one of my colleagues being shot from behind, he lay on the floor screaming ‘Banqetile (They have finished me)’,” said Mpele.
He said he could not believe he was still alive when he saw fellow miners lying dead on the ground.
“We were actually cornered by police. We only saw them as we were running back when the other police started to shoot,” he said.
Mpele said he would not go back to work until the R12 500 miners were demanding had been agreed to.
Nkosibongile Momaphela, who is from the Eastern Cape, said they spent their time in custody praying to be released and for the miners who died.
“In jail we could see the videos being played on television, but the videos do not show how people were chased and shot by the police,” he said.
“We all ran back when the shooting was taking place, but there were other police who surrounded us.
“The videos did not show how police shot at us and kicked us to the ground before we were arrested.
“We were made to lie down on the floor when we were arrested while others were lying on the ground.”
Nomfanelo Jali was happy that his brother was released, but she is looking for another of her brothers, whom she last saw on the day of the Marikana shooting.
She said she had enquired at all the police stations where the miners were held and had checked at the mortuaries, to no avail.
“I have looked everywhere, but I cannot find him anywhere. He was at work attending the meeting when the shooting happened.
“I have been coming here since last week hoping that maybe they forgot him at the police station or that maybe there was something wrong with the paperwork, but he is still not here.”
Nceba Maqhaga was among the people who were disappointed when their relatives were not released. He said he was certain that his uncle, Funisile Feleva, was in custody as he had called home to inform his wife in the Eastern Cape that he had been arrested.
“It’s hard to sleep at night, because we don’t know whether he has food and water wherever he’s being kept. The only thing he said was that he had been arrested by the police. We have not seen him yet.
“I think he is one of those whose addresses they are still trying to verify,” said Maqhaga.
He said he was relieved that some of the miners had been released, as it gave him hope that his uncle might be freed before the end of the week.
Although arrangements had been made for the miners to be transported by the police back to Marikana, the men jumped into taxis that were waiting for them outside the court.
* Only 145 of about 270 people arrested in connection with the August 16 shooting at the Marikana mine are Lonmin employees.
After two-and-a-half weeks of requesting the names of the arrested, a list was sent . The list is numbered up to 270, but contains only 267 names. Numbers 261, 263 and 264 are skipped. Number 40 is illegible on the fax.
Police said they had arrested 259 people in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, that 34 were dead and 78 were in hospital. They have since arrested some of the injured as they were discharged from hospital.
Lonmin spokeswoman Sue Vey said they had so far identified only 145 on the list as their employees.
1. Vayeke Sivuka
2. Tsekang Tshepo Moletsane
3. Melilizwe Boco
4. Silungile Bosanathi
5. Mthetheleli Gunguthwa
6. Mjolankosiphona
7. Simpiwe Kkhuthani
8. Lesala Mpana
9. Lale Mapyoyisa
10. Paseka Ramosebetsi
11. Mzwakele Letailana
12. Bongani Maqakalana
13. Fumdweko Mpokhi
14. Thembinkosi Miyco
15. Yadisa Fleni
16. Zilindile Mahashe
17. Thulanyane Julius Thuntsi
18. Magwiji Joseph Fundakubi
19. Sive Nombewu
20. Mbonseni Fezile
21. Masilo Piet Madia
22. Mayasa Makyaya
23. Rapakane Samuel Machake
24. Muzikisi Mseno
25. Mzudumile Halayi
26. Zwebhe Mkoco
27. Lungisile Lutshetu
28. Khoale Simphiwe
29. Pelisa Ndzelu
30. Mahau Napo
31. Khaliphile Mdiya
32. Maxhego Koli
33. Sikumbuzo Mthenthwa
34. Siyabomsa Velaphi
35. Mqomseni Nsethu
36. Andile Ghemese
37. Steven Mthumzi Lois
38. Mntunje Wilson Febane
39. Bolompane Ntho
40.
41. Sibogile Mfazwe
42. Emmanuel Pitso Mpojane
43. Kgosi Pyatedi
44. Malefetsane Kama
45. Thabans Sediadia
46. Samuel Motlatsi Molise
47. Mkhuluwa Gela
48. Obiya Moiolo
49. Bolokang Zebulon Mosetlhane
50. Stene Clement Khoali
51. Loyiso Jako
52. Isaac Zwelivumile Sotshangane
53. Lefu Senatla
54. Edwin Masita Masunyana
55. Simthembile Khwati
56. Jacob Mokobori
57. Siyabuleluza Seokocye Valamba
58. Mkhuseli Xhonxho
59. Shadrack Zandisile Mtshamba
60. Bulelani Tsontsoyi
61. Sphiwe Mbuzi
62. Siyabulela Mlelo
63. Caswell Ksobotlho
64. Khumbuzile Siwele
65. Sithembele Ntakana
66. Molapodi Moepane
67. Nyingwa Mkhuseli
68. Timello Petrus Mohami
69. Sefuli Ephraim Moholotsela
70. Ndunguza Sandulele
71. Letsaba Augustinus Mahleke
72. Aubrey Zandile Seko
73. Lunseko Michael Maxixi
74. Malepetsane Lesalalesala
75. Monde Tia
76. Sibusiso Ntubeza
77. Simfumene Ntenteni
78. Bongani Xhaliswa
79. Lennox Mzimasi Name
80. Tsholoba Xabisile
81. Emmanuel Maqhabasia Raisa
82. NkosiphendulGGe Sidayi
83. Skosana Lomdane
84. Gugulethu Mbungwa
85. Mchochisi Makhosonke
86. Silimangele Mvakalelwa
87. Nkhetse Bernard Lebajoa
88. Stanford Ndleleni
89. Mbusele Kwedlisa
90. Kelebakae Makgetha
91. Bonkosi Mxholo
92. Amos Yolisile Honxo
93. Elvis Buhle Mabodli
94. Lefu Michael Molala
95. Thembinkosi Nevana
96. Mzunkosi Dlungwana
97. Mlandeli Myalwana
98. Vabaza Ngcisini
99. Sipho Dube
100. Tandisa Ngomane
101. Funisile Feleva
102. Mapota Alfred Makhaya
103. Fumanekile Dabalele
104. Ayabonga Mthimkhulu
105. Xibisi Makosadi
106. Bongile Siyolo
107. Goodman Ndyandya
108. Fono Thandikhaya
109. Mzonzimo Nicholas Lila
110. Zwelihle Nomkula
111. Mongezi Tshotwana
112. Phumase Ngwenyama
113. Tebogo Tsnwaedi
114. Tom Magwa
115. Mandla Zalisile
116. Nkosibongile Nomaphela
117. David Tsietsie Sepheko
118. Thobizile Khesa
119. Lefa Maswetsa
120. Phumelele Molse
121. Paulos Thobingunye
122. Mohlouoa Everret Meteane
123. Lulama Tukutela
124. David Machesele
125. Batata Lonie
126. Siphiliba Ndlodovu
127. Christopher Mvikelwa
128. Zwelemfundo Manyiki
129. Khanyisile Mhulempi
130. Xolani Boki
131. Makhambo Tholakele
132. Phomotso Motema
133. Bengi Themba Matiwane
134. Jim Nlsikela
135. Lebohang Mokone
136. Sera Jeremia Makaja
137. Msebenzi Moyoai
138. Ngqulana Aviwe
139. Kwebela Mehlabudi
140. Cosmos Maltlelebe
141. Lunqane Mabutyane
142. Yonela Mnqayi
143. Moeketsi Mogale
144. Ntsikelelo Khutuka
145. Sikonati Naudi
146. Mokete Nthio Jacob
147. Aaron Mtudisi
148. Mkhuseli Boswana
149. Phumulani Bheswa
150. Sibusisi Konco
151. Mvoti Semeute
152. David Mpakatsa Mbele
153. Dlakela Maleika
154. Lungiza Mzuluzi
155. Molemo Ernest Lemea
156. Lwandile Mcinga
157. Thabo Mathaba
158. Theko Mbitekane
159. Mangesi Mpisana
160. Lizwi Nkuku
161. Gcobani Sydwell Dlepu
162. Mfaniseni Norman Ngwenya
163. Lougezile Ntembe
164. Makosonke Shwalakhe
165. Fusi Mohale
166. Sicelo Mavuka
167. Mlandeli Myazwana
168. Mphoto Kgare
169. Zangempi Sayisayi
170. Motebang Tsoenki
171. Makalo Sinapiuyane
172. Paris Madikizela
173. Andile Dinga
174. Siphamaudla Bululu
175. Dodal Nywane
176. Unathi Emmanuel Keuasi
177. Job Nkoebe
178. Madlambe Mbongeni
179. Tlhakanyane Ktalele
180. Sibeko Ngiyana
181. Mpho Benjamin Nkete
182. Bonginkos Phambanisa
183. Leboa Molati
184. Mbolegeni Zewele
185. Malusi Nkonyana
186. Mbuzeli Noontsha
187. Sahlulisile Cuqa
188. Simon Bfana Kurata
189. Mpelanzwe Gqibisa
190. Sigagawe Joseph Jalisile
191. Mcebisi Memela
192. Amos Mdumiseni
193. Thembelani Njobe
194. Mlamli Mkhala
195. Thabang Hansi
196. Mawande Same
197. Motobelo Jospeh Ramotokolo
198. Khutu Ngodeli
199. Gcinuyise Ndzuzu
200. Johannes Lebuajoang Mokoena
201. Thabo Ntai
202. Johannes Mashabela
203. Sonwabile Phingilili
204. Jabulani Ndubani
205. Simthembile Nomquphu
206. Vuyo Dyani
207. Thomas Maphini
208. Kojang Richard Sekobolo
209. Themba Jali
210. Tsokolo Victor Malefane
211. Mzwekhaya Siyila
212. Kgotso Ramokepu
213. Simfumene Tende
214. Dawid Tanki Tsotsotso
215. Mzobandile Mthukeni
216. Zolani Magayiyana
217. Frans Butseke
218. Mbulelo Matafeni
219. Makalang Albert Lenka
220. Moatlhodi Seleke
221. Mabosetsa Manyahole
222. Onke Sobhudula
223. Sameul Mawuso
224. Lebogang Ramochele
225. Mzimasi Tiya
226. Bokang Matuka
227. Lungelo Futiana
228. Tebogo Hlakantso
229. Mlindi Kambela
230. Bulelani Gqonyane
231. Albert Maphini
232. Mbochelwa Sibecqa
233. Archibald Mataphi
234. Eric Sekini
235. Thanyane Machabe
236. Luyanda Nyangiwe
237. Tisele Mpaki
238. Mtutuse Mbete
239. Pheello Malukle
240. Meshack Mzilikazi
241. Sebidi Thubeka
242. Simphiwe Bongani Mbuthuma
243. Sifokoxwana Gqonyana
244. Michael Nkoenyane
245. David Tsenase
246. Mzumzima Eric Rabi
247. Thembile Mtsheketshe
248. Mgudlwa Lulama Melixolo
249. George Moditsaotsile Mosikare
250. Khanyile Magxuebelele
251. Mbothana Maneli
252. Sphindile Nqwili
253. Mpumelelo Qwede
254. David Kadi
255. Joseph Seleke
256. Sbongile Vincent Sompa
257. Nkosivikile Nqwaga
258. Jomba Monwabisi
259. Seitebatso Phushudi
260. Paulus Fikizolo
261.
262. Botho Mantuse
263.
264.
265. Zwelinzima Tekemane
266. Machatane Neo Edward
267. Zama Dyantyi
268. Thembisile Madotheni
269. Mziwakhe Sikrokro
270. Luvo Mgcotyelwa
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