Striking miners sing, chant, march and dance with crude weapons and machetes at the Lonmin mine near Marikana on August 15, 2012. The 360,000-member strong National Union of Mineworkers which was formed in 1980s to fight apartheid labour laws, termed the strike by the Lonmin mine workers for increase in wage as illegal. Photo: AP
The NUM membership declined marginally because of its affiliation to the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu), a powerful ally of the ruling ANC and its attitude towards the strike. As the NUM lost its organisational rights, the expelled union leaders started a new union, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) and promised the workers a monthly salary of 12,500 Rand a month.The union began a strike to force its pay demand. Photo: AP
But on August 16, 2012, as the protest turned violent, 36 striking miners were shot dead by police at a platinum mine. It was one of the worst police shootings in South Africa since the end of the apartheid era. In this photo church leaders visit the scene where miners were shot and killed at the Lonmin mine near Rustenburg on August 20, 2012. Photo: AP
The bloodshed prompted President Jacob Zuma to cut short a trip to neighbouring Mozambique for a summit of regional leaders. He instructed law enforcement agencies to do everything possible to bring the situation under control and to bring the perpetrators of the violence to book. Photo: AP
The demands for higher wages spread to at least two other mines, raising fears of further protests at more South African mines that provide most of the world's platinum. In this photo mine workers attend a memorial service at the Lonmin Platinum Mine on August 23, 2012. Photo: AP
Even three weeks after the violent protest, which led to the death of 46 people at Lonmin’s Marikana platinum mine, the miners refused to return to work until their demands over low pay and working conditions were met. In the picture, police guard the entrance of the Lonmin Platinum Mine as striking mine workers march to the Karee shaft, rear of the mine, to hand over a memorandum to mine management. Photo: AP
The Lonmin Platinum Mine offered a wage revision with a 900 Rand increase that would give new workers a basic monthly salary of 5,500 Rand. But the leaders of striking miners rejected the offer as it falls far below their demands for a minimum salary of 12,500 Rand and called on co-workers to shut down mines nation-wide. Photo: AP
Miners converge at Lonmin Platinum Mine on September 10, 2012, in an attempt to stop operations. Photo: AP
Police arrive as residents burn tyres in Lonmin Platinum Mine near Rustenburg on September 15, 2012. As various stakeholders continued negotiations, South African Justice Minister Jeff Radebe warned that the government would clamp down on daily illegal marches by miners brandishing machetes, spears and clubs that have marked the strike. Photo: AP
Miners protest whilst holding South African currency notes on September 18, 2012. The mining company again offered a 22 per cent overall pay increase. Photo: AP
Miners returned to work at the Lonmin Platinum mine after the management agreed to pay raises of up to 22 per cent in Marikana on September 20, 2012. Photo: AP
A formal commission of inquiry opened its investigation into the violence at Lonmin’s Marikana platinum mine in South Africa that led to the death of 46 people. Photo: AP
Retired judge Ian Farlam, a member of the Commission, inspects the area where the bodies of mine workers were found, near Rustenburg on October 1, 2012, even as labour unrest continued with workers at other mines as well as truck drivers are continuing protests over pay. Photo: AP