/ 30 July 2013

Lonmin worker shot dead near Marikana mine

Preliminary investigations revealed four shots were fired and that the victim is a Lonmin employee
Preliminary investigations revealed four shots were fired and that the victim is a Lonmin employee

"It is alleged that the victim was on his way to work when approached by unknown men who shot him with a firearm on the body and neck. The suspects allegedly fled the scene with a white Toyota Corolla with Gauteng province registration numbers," said Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone on Tuesday.

He said the motive of the shooting on Sunday night was unknown and no arrests were made.

"Preliminary investigations revealed four shots were fired and that the victim is a Lonmin employee."

He said it was not clear if the shooting was related to other murder cases in the area, or linked to a rivalry between the National Union of Mineworkers' (NUM) and Association of Mineworkers' and Construction Union (Amcu) at the Lonmin platinum mine in Rustenburg.

Meanwhile, in a seperate incident a man who was beaten up at the Nkaneng informal settlement while on his way to attend an NUM recruitment rally at the Wonderkop stadium died on July 21.

"He died last night [Sunday] in hospital after suffering serious injuries as a result of the attack earlier during the day," said NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka the following day.

Killed for wearing an NUM T-shirt
The man was stabbed in the neck while wearing an NUM T-shirt.

Armed police guarded the paramedics who attended to him said he had blood on his chin and cheeks from a stab wound in the neck. Paramedics put an oxygen mask on him and took him to hospital at speed.

Earlier that day, NUM official Eric Gclitshana told the rally people were being killed for wearing an NUM T-shirt. 

"We are shocked and disappointed that such acts happen under police watch, and that no progress has been made by the police to curb these killings at Lonmin," said Seshoka Police at the time. – Sapa