In the direct aftermath of the Marikana massacre, the narrative put out by police was that mine workers were shot by cops in danger acting out of self-defence. This might have stayed the official story of Marikana -- were it not for a brave team of researchers led by Kate Alexander and battle-hardened journalist Greg Marinovich.

What happened at the mining town of Marikana on 16 August 2012 wasn't always known as a "massacre".

The events on the day that left 34 Lonmin mine workers dead were initially termed a "tragedy". Striking miners, emboldened by muti, had attacked police who were doing their best to control a tense stand-off. Frightened cops acting in self-defence had fired back. Lives had tragically been lost.

This was the story disseminated by police and publicised by the media. With over 250 miners held in police custody in the days after, there were no eyewitnesses free to tell a different tale: one of how miners were hunted down like animals on a secret killing field.

And that's the way it might have stayed.

The researchers who tried to tell the world

It was only when Professor Kate Alexander and her researchers visited Marikana for themselves,...