South Africa is reeling after a shootout between police and striking miners Marikana, Rustenburg left 35 people dead.
A number of the miners were reportedly armed when they charged toward police lines, after pleas from union leaders to put a halt to the action failed. It is unclear however who fired first.
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There has been serious activity across social media channels with Twitter the most active, causing South Africa to briefly trend globally.
For a number of people, the shooting was reminder of other violent incidents in the country’s past:
The actions of the police yesterday have reminded us of a past we would rather not relive.
#Lonmin— Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) August 17, 2012
30 dead? That’s two more than those who died at the Bisho massacre in 1992. This qualifies as a massacre.
— Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) August 17, 2012
The thing abt
#lonmin shooting is that we’r meant 2 hav moved away fm Apartheid style protests & deadly police responses.#bodebad4future— Tim Truluck (@jozi117) August 17, 2012
‘I’m disgusted at all of us. 50 yrs ago ppl were massacred &world stood still. It happens again, we make excuses. People DIED here’
#Lonmin— Joonji Mdyogolo (@Joonji) August 17, 2012
50 years ago similar shooting
#Sharpeville sparked a liberation movement, here’s to hoping#Lonmin has as big an impact on this country— Sipho Kings (@SiphoMcD) August 17, 2012
Others sympathised with the police:
As sad as the whole situation is, I do not blame the cops. When your life as an officer is in danger, you must react.
#lonmin— Phinda (@Phinda_N) August 17, 2012
For once the SAPS did what they suppose to do-Protect and serve.The hostile,armed,murderous,illegal strikers had it coming.
#Lonmin— Will 🙂 (@CroWill) August 17, 2012
Would there be even more outcry if there were 30 dead policemen and the strikes continued?
#lonmin— Robyn Clark (@clarkformaths) August 17, 2012
If you dont want the police to do their job then dont ask them to go and sort out a violent situation.
@victordlamini#lonmin— Craig Fry (@CraigsAthletes) August 17, 2012
I do believe that the police had every right to protect themselves. Shem, they tried so hard to diffuse the situation all week.
#Lonmin— Tumi
anamela (@Tumi_Manamela) August 17, 2012
#Lonmin 2 police MURDERED earlier!We ,SA wld hve been laughing stock of wrld if they killed more Police yesterday without pol.firing a shot— Terence Vincent (@teevee20) August 17, 2012
Some however just mourned the loss of life and the consequences the shooting would have for the families who lost lives:
cc RT
@ntokozombambo: May God be with the families who lost loved ones#Lonmin#Masikana— Kgosi Kgaugelo Legae (@LeKing88) August 17, 2012
Some kids may have 2 drop out of schl bcoz their fathers & breadwinners were killed like flies by SAPS. U cannot justify that
#Lonmin— Luntu (@LuciousGP) August 17, 2012
Thid can’t be life..butMay God be with the families who lost loved ones
#Lonmin#Masikana— Shawn Neo (@ShawnDrummerBoy) August 17, 2012
Today we mourn the deaths of those mine workers who died in vain fighting for better wages. May their souls RIP!
#Lonmin#Marikana— Tefelo G. Makeketa (@Tefelo1) August 17, 2012
South African President Jacob Zuma also came under fire after failing to return to the country from a conference in Mozambique:
And where is our wonderful president in this torrid time? Ohhh yes, that’s right. He’s out of the country. Beeg surprise
#lonmin— Jodi Natalie (@PinX_9014) August 17, 2012
#Lonmin#MarikanaMassacre Prez Zuma should show stronger leadership at this sad time and be in the country to console the nation.— Francisco Little (@KazKid) August 17, 2012
RT
@phillipdewet: 16 hours later & we still can’t get#Lonmin casualty count. President’s in Maputo. Police com will only speak at 11:30.— Raymond Joseph (@rayjoe) August 17, 2012
Earlier I said JZ hasn’t said anything about
#lonmin BUT Our President says that he was “deeply alarmed and saddened” yi lento yase#lonmin.— Ayanda Mnguni (@namnguni001) August 17, 2012
