
Audio By Carbonatix
A South African police officer has accused a colleague of killing a wounded miner during strikes at the Marikana mine last year.Hendrick Myburgh told an inquiry he heard a gunshot and saw a fellow officer standing over the body of a miner who had been alive moments earlier.Thirty-four striking Marikana miners died when police opened fire at them.The police say they were acting in self-defence.Eyewitnesses have previously accused officers of shooting injured or even handcuffed miners, but it is the first time a police officer has made the allegation, correspondents say.The bloodshed occurred on 16 August, after the weeklong strike had already killed 10 people, including two police officers who were hacked to death.It is one of the deadliest police operations since the end of apartheid in 1994, and led to widespread outrage in South Africa.Judges have opened an inquiry into all 44 of the deaths.'Deserve to die'Mr Myburgh was part of the police force called to the Lonmin-owned Marikana platinum mine on 16 August.In a written statement, Mr Myburgh said he heard a gunshot and turned around to see another officer putting his pistol back in the holster as he stood over the body of a miner.The miner had been injured but alive moments earlier.The unnamed officer then allegedly told Mr Myburgh: "They deserve to die."Mr Myburgh said he could not identify his colleague, the BBC's Andrew Harding reports.South Africa's police commissioner Riyah Phiyega told the inquiry that made it hard to pursue the matter.In the immediate aftermath, authorities sought to portray the miners, who were striking illegally, as responsible for the violence and bloodshed.Some 270 of the striking miners were arrested and charged with murder, though the charges were later dropped.The strike ended in September after workers agreed a 22% pay rise with the mine's owners, platinum giant Lonmin.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Marigold Foundation distributes sanitary pads to 1,500 girls in Agona East
3 minutes -
Two dead after building collapse at Gyagyaano in Cape Coast
6 minutes -
Six arrested over Kwabenya shooting incident involving Adwoa Safo
17 minutes -
Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena I installed as new leader of Kristo Asafo Mission
41 minutes -
Kristo Asafo Church refutes claims Adwoa Safo was shot by brother
1 hour -
Four dead, two critical after Metro Mass bus plunges into ditch on Peki stretch
2 hours -
Police reinforce security at Kwabenya following gunfire incident involving Adwoa Safo
3 hours -
Kristo Asafo Church to investigate gunfire incident at leadership introduction ceremony
3 hours -
Security fired warning shots after gate breach attempt — Lawyer Kantanka on Adwoa Safo’s incident
3 hours -
Adwoa Safo fired first shot, security responded with warning shots – Kristo Asafo lawyer claims
4 hours -
Police investigates shooting incident involving Adwoa Safo
4 hours -
Father’s Day: ‘Let’s continue to build giants’ – Mahama urges
4 hours -
Frimpong Manso Institute commends fathers for their vital role in families and society
4 hours -
Police investigate death of unidentified man at Tema Metropolitan Assembly forecourt
5 hours -
Sarah Adwoa Safo reportedly injured in alleged shooting incident
5 hours