South Africa's Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa-Nqakula on Tuesday August 21 apologised to striking miners where the police on August 16 killed 34 of them in clashes that left 10 other people dead. The shootings took place at Marikana platinum mine near Rustenberg, about 114 km northwest of Johannesburg.
According to Al Jazeera Television, Mapisa-Nqakula - the first government official to visit the site since last week's killings - pleaded with the aggrieved workers to forgive what happened. She admitted that the killings were wrong and apologised on behalf of government. After a week of national mourning, memorial services are expected to take place today nationwide.
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