North West - Family members cried and collapsed at a memorial service on Thursday for the 34 miners shot dead during a protest at Lonmin Platinum mine in Marikana in the North West last week.
Several women broke down when they saw the jackets, blankets and shoes worn at the memorial which had belonged to the workers who were shot dead by police after week-long violent protests at the Rustenburg mine.
One of the woman had to be carried out of the memorial service after being overcome with grief.
A bishop called on all the social workers and pastors to “please be visible where the mourners are... to help them”.
More than a thousand Wonderkop residents and dozens of clergymen and priests gathered under a white marquee at the edge of the informal settlement.
A second marquee was placed alongside the larger one to accommodate the overflow of mourners. Those without a place to sit carried umbrellas to shield themselves from the morning sun.
Lonmin and nearby Impala Platinum closed for the day as workers prepared for memorials, including the main national service at Marikana where police gunned down 34 miners a week ago after deadly clashes had already claimed 10 lives.
SABC radio news reported that the government abandoned its memorial service to join the community's one.
Attending the service were former ANCYL 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.
Expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema, who was wearing sun glasses and chewing gum, sat in the front with the widows and older women. Suspended ANCYL secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa was with Malema.
President Jacob Zuma was not expected to attend any of the memorials on Thursday, his spokesman said, as he moved to set up a judicial probe into the violence.
Zuma met with the strikers on Wednesday, seeking to ease tensions and to address concerns that the government has ignored their plight.
“The president has undertaken that before the end of the week the terms of reference and composition of the commission of enquiry will be complete,” Mac Maharaj said.
“He has set aside time to attend to that today.”
Police are also investigating the killings, while the independent police watchdog is looking into the conduct of the officers who opened fire at the crowd that was armed mainly with spears, clubs and machetes.
Presidency spokesman Harold Maloka told Sapa the names of the 34 protesters could only be released with permission from their families.
Flags continued to fly half-mast throughout the country in the national week of mourning.
The service at Lonmin will be the focal point during a day of mourning that will stretch across the country, as many of the victims were migrant workers whose bodies have already returned to their home villages.
Religious leaders are conducting the memorials, with services also expected in Joburg, Cape Town and Mthatha.
In Mthatha, families were gathering in a Methodist church to mourn the nearly 20 miners who died from that area.
In Gauteng, premier Nomvula Mokonyane was expected to lead a service later in the afternoon in Johannesburg. The service would be held in the Johannesburg City Hall.
Wits University would observe the day by marching against violence at its Braamfontein campus.
The march would start at the Great Hall and end on Jan Smuts Avenue. - Sapa, AFP