Mkuu wa polisi wa Afrika Kusini Riah Phiyenga amesema vikosi vyake viliwafyatulia risasi wafanyakazi wachimba madini wanaogoma kwa ajili ya kujilinda katika ghasia zilizosababisha vifo vya watu 34 na 78 kujeruhiwa.
Kamanda Phiyega amesema polisi walitumia nguvu kupindukia kujilinda wenyewe baada ya kushambuliwa na wachimba migodi wanaogoma waliokuwa na silaha hatari siku ya Alhamis. Kampuni ya mgodi wa Lonmin PLC karibu na Johannesburg, wanakofanya kazi wengi wa wanaogoma imekiri pia kwamba baadhi ya wafanyakazi hao walikuwa na silaha.
Akizungumza na Sauti ya Amerika kutoka Johanesburg mwandishi habari Egbert Mkoko anasema mzozo ulianza wiki moja iliyopita baada ya wachimba madini elfu tatu walipoanza mgomo kudai nyongeza kwa karibu asili mia 300 na hali bora za kazi.
Mahojiano na Egbert Mkoko
Rais Jacob Zuma alifupisha safari yake ya Maputo na kurudi nyumbani Ijumaa akisema katika taarifa kwamba ameshtushwa na kuchukizwa na kile alichokieleza kuwa ghasia zisizo na maana. Hakusema anayewajibika lakini alivihimiza vyama vya wafanyakazi kufanyakazi na serikali kutanzua hali hiyo.
An unidentified woman chants as she protests against the police opening fire and killing striking mine workers a day earlier at the Lonmin Platinum Mine near Rustenburg, South Africa, August 17, 2012.
Members of a South African police crime unit investigate the scene of the shooting of miners at the Lonmin mine near Rustenburg, South Africa, August 17, 2012.
An unidentified woman cries as she protests against the police opening fire and killing striking mine workers a day earlier at the Lonmin Platinum Mine near Rustenburg, South Africa, August 17, 2012.
A policeman fires at protesting miners outside a South African mine in Rustenburg, August 16, 2012.
Policemen fire at striking miners outside a South African mine in Rustenburg, August 16, 2012.
A miner runs as police shoot outside a South African mine in Rustenburg, August 16, 2012.
Policemen in teargas and dust open fire on striking miners at the Lonmin Platinum Mine near Rustenburg, South Africa, August 16, 2012.
Police open fire on striking miners at the Lonmin Platinum Mine near Rustenburg, South Africa, August 16, 2012.
A paramedic (front L) receives help from a policewomen as he tends to the injured after protesting miners were shot outside a South African mine in Rustenburg, August 16, 2012.
Msemaji wa chama cha kitaifa cha wachimba madini Lesina Seshoka anasema sehemu ya mvutano huo imechochewa na uwamuzi wa wafanyakazi kuanza mgomo bila ya kupata uungaji mkono wa chama cha wafanyakazi.