Rustenburg - Seventeen mineworkers charged with the murder of ten people in Marikana during a violent strike at Lonmin mine near Rustenburg four years ago, appeared briefly in the North West High Court on Monday.
North West Judge president Monica Leeuw postponed the case to October 13, for the defence to file an application to review the decision of the national director of public prosecutions.
The national director of public prosecutions responded to the defence application to withdraw charges, stating that the charges should not be withdrawn.
The High Court, sitting at the Rustenburg Magistrate's Court, ordered that the accused's lawyers file their application for review of the decision on or before September 29.
Andries Nkome, acting for the mineworkers, said should an application not be filed by September 29, the court should proceed with the pre-trial.
Anele Zonke, Xolani Nzuzu, Mzoxolo Magidiwana and 14 others are facing charges of murder, robbery, malicious damage to property and the unlawful possession of a firearm.
The charges relate to the murder of 10 people, preceding August 16 2012, the day on which 34 mineworkers were killed by the police during a wildcat strike at Lonmin platinum mine operations in Marikana.
The Marikana Support Campaign protests outside the Rustenburg Magistrate's Court during the appearance of Marikana men accused of murdering two policemen, two Lonmin security guards and six non striking mineworkers in August 2012.
Photo / ANA
The State alleges the accused killed two policemen, Oupa Sello Lepaaku and Hendrick Tsietsie Monene, two Lonmin security officers, Hassan Fundi and Franz Matlhomola Mabelane, and six non-striking workers. One of the accused, Majeke Nonkonyana, has since died.
Zonke was remanded in custody while the others had their bail of between R1000 and R2500 extended until their appearance in court in October.
Zonke was sentenced at the beginning of February this year, for the murder of Samancor Chrome mine’s Human Resources manager Goodman Zalukano, and the attempted murder of Thandi Zulakangana, in Kroondal near Rustenburg in 2014.
Zalukano and Zulakangana were attacked by Zonke together with Sandiso Majaxa and Siyabulela Nqwilelo, when they came out of a shopping complex in Kroondal. Majaxa and Nqwilele were each sentenced to 41 years behind bars for their role in the crime.
During the attack Zulakangana, who was pregnant at the time, was shot and sustained serious stomach injuries. Her unborn child was killed as a result.