North West - Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi on Thursday put on surgical gloves to help treat mourners who collapsed at a memorial service in Marikana, North West.
Paramedics had their hands full as mourners became emotional during the service for 34 miners shot dead during a protest in the area a week ago.
More than a thousand Wonderkop residents and dozens of clergymen and priests gathered in a white marquee at the edge of the informal settlement.
A second marquee was put up alongside the larger one to accommodate an overflow of mourners. Those without a place to sit carried umbrellas to shield themselves from the morning sun.
Priests took the stage and led the mourners in hymns before leading them along in cries of “hallelujah”.
SABC radio news reported that the government abandoned its memorial service to join the community's one.
Attending the service were former ANC Youth League spokesman Floyd Shivambu, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, Co-operative Governance Minister Richard Baloyi, North West premier Thandi Modise, and Rustenburg mayor Mpho Khonou.
Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba told mourners that violence would never solve a problem.
“Let us not kill one another... forgive, do not [take] revenge.”
It was time for politicians to stop using the tragedy to score political points, he said.
“Our politicians, please... do not score cheap political points through this tragedy. These are God's people.”
Mourners could not contain themselves while Makgoba spoke. Some screamed and cried.
In addition to the 34 miners killed on August 16, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed during protests. - Sapa