Marikana

Marikana, North West – Thousands of striking miners armed with weapons. They are requesting triple their salary in a pay increase from Lonmin Mine in Rustenburg. 16/8/12. PHOTOGRAPH: ALON SKUY/THE TIMES

Mine shooting latest: Echoes of Marikana as three shot dead

Police have arrested four suspects after the latest mine shooting that has claimed the lives of a protestor and two security guards.

Marikana

Marikana, North West – Thousands of striking miners armed with weapons. They are requesting triple their salary in a pay increase from Lonmin Mine in Rustenburg. 16/8/12. PHOTOGRAPH: ALON SKUY/THE TIMES

In an eerie flashback to the Marikana Massacre gunshots rang out in a mine shooting in Limpopo, killing three people – a protestor and two mine security guards – this week.

Limpopo SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said police in Tubatse outside Burgersfort had arrested four suspects following the violent protests that took place at Annesley Mine on Monday. 

The suspects, Service Moropane, 31, Tos Mokoena, 36, David Ramaila,38, and Khomotso Mabefho, 42, who are facing charges of three counts of murder, robbery and malicious damage to property appeared in Praktiseer Magistrate’s court on Wednesday, Mojapelo said.

“A group of protesters from Segorong village allegedly went to the mine at about 10.15am and on arrival, they demanded to see management,” Mojapelo said.

“They then allegedly overwhelmed the security officers on duty, disarmed them and during the confrontation, some shots were fired. The windows of the guardroom were also smashed,” he said.

During the scuffle, Mojapelo said, two security guards were shot, one died immediately at the scene and the other died in hospital on Tuesday. 

“One of the protesters was also shot and taken to the local clinic where he later succumbed to injuries,” he said.

Mojapelo said when police responded to the scene of the mine shooting the group of protests fled in different directions. 

“The two security officers were still in the vicinity, lying on the ground. One was certified dead by paramedics and the other was taken to Dilokong hospital were he later passed on,” he said.

“The police managed to recover a rifle that was found abandoned in the area but the pistol is still missing. The rifle was allegedly robbed from one of the security guards.  The motive for this violent protest will be determined by the unfolding police investigations,” he said.

Mojapelo said more arrests in connection with the mine shooting are expected.

Acting Provincial Police Commissioner, Major General Samuel Manala, strongly condemned the incident and urged the investigators to hunt down the remaining suspects and bring them to book

Anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the remaining suspects should contact the investigating officer Detective Sergeant Patrick Rampepe on 0658350980, crime stop number 0860010111or the nearest Police station.