South Africa: Lonmin - Malema Fans the Flames, but the Victims Are Still Out in the Cold

analysis

Johannesburg — Having been failed by the unions, the platinum company they worked for, and the government, the furious residents of the small squatter camp next to the Marikana shaft of the Lonmin Platinum Mine turned to someone outside of the system for comfort: Julius Malema. He said exactly what they had wanted to hear all along: they are victims of a vicious company, conniving unions and uncaring politicians. Behind the scenes, meanwhile, a few of the miners allowed us a tiny peek into their lives. It was heartbreaking.

The Marikana squatter camp is very quiet in the early morning on Saturday. A few people stroll about, but there is no indication of the carnage that took place just days before. The crime scenes have been cleaned up; the police tape and cones replaced by trailing pieces of paper trash and fresh cow dung.

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