Murder charges laid against three MPs

• SOUTH AFRICA
• Saturday

• 

  File: Former minister of mineral resources, Susan Shabangu, is among those charged with murder over the deaths of Marikana mineworkers on 16 August, 2012. Photo: Gallo Images / Leon Sadiki / City Press

RUSTENBURG - Three of South Africa's MPs have had charges of murder, conspiracy to murder as well as attempted murder laid against them.

Five people including

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, Minister of Women's Affairs Susan Shabangu and former police minister, Nathi Mthethwa are being accused of involvement in the deaths of 34 miners in Marikana in August 2012.

Also accused are national police commissioner Riah Phiyega, former North West police commissioner Zukiswa Mbombo as well as mining company, Lonmin.

The charges were laid against them by EFF leader Julius Malema at the Marikana police station in Rustenburg. 

Malema also wants the families of the deceased miners to be paid R10 million. The injured, he says, must receive a minimum of R5 million in compensation.

On Monday, 29 June, DA parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane also visited Marikana where he discussed his party's plans to table a bill before Parliament, which would be known as The Marikana Victims Compensation Special Appropriation Bill.

President Jacob Zuma released the findings of the Farlam commission of inquiry in June.

The commission found that Lonmin did not do its best to resolve disputes that arose between itself and its workers.

It also found that the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union and its rival, the National Union of Mineworkers failed to exercise effective control over their members.