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             Crowd Gathers Near Site of South African Mine Shooting

   by VOA News

   A large group of protesters has peacefully rallied near the site of the
   South African mine where 34 people were killed Thursday when police
   opened fire on striking workers.
   Demonstrators sang and shouted chants on Saturday as speakers addressed
   the crowd in Marikana township, northwest of Johannesburg.
   Authorities continue to investigate Thursday's shooting, which also
   left 78 people injured.  It is South Africa's deadliest security
   operation since the end of apartheid.
   National police chief Riah Phiyega said her forces opened fire on
   striking miners in self defense. She said Friday that police used force
   to protect themselves after coming under attack by strikers armed with
   "dangerous weapons."
   On Saturday, former African National Congress youth leader Julius
   Malema urged demonstrators to keep fighting for the causes that were
   important to the miners who died in the shootings.
   "We will not sell their souls out. Their fight remains our fight and
   therefore, the only way of honoring them is by continuing their
   struggle to defend the rights of the workers," said Malema.
   The mine owner, Lonmin PLC is the world's third-largest platinum
   producer.
   About 3,000 people have walked off the job at the Lonmin mine in the
   past week due to a pay dispute.  Miners want their monthly salaries,
   now averaging about $480, to be tripled.
   On Friday, South African President Jacob Zuma ordered an official
   inquiry into the shootings. He said he was "shocked and dismayed" at
   what he called "senseless violence."
   ''Some information for this report was provided by AFP.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/crowd_gathers_near_site_of_south_africa_mine_shooting/1490679.html