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Massacre in South Africa: Police Defend Killing of 34 Striking Workers at Platinum Mine

Democracy Now

South African police shot dead 34 striking workers at platinum mine last week, setting off a wave of protests. In what has been described as "South Africa’s first post-apartheid massacre," the miners were killed after demanding more pay and walking off the job at the Marikana mine, the world’s third largest producer of platinum. South Africa’s national police chief Riah Phiyega is drawing public outrage for defending her officers. She said, "It was the right thing to do" though “we are sorry that lives were lost.”