_: Thousands of Gauteng residents, led by Premier Nomvula Mokonyane and her Executive Council (Exco), will on Thursday join millions across the country in paying their last respects to the Lonmin mineworkers and the police who died in Marikana in the North West Province Thursday.

Premier will be joined by officials and representatives of the political organisations, the South African Police Service (SAPS), business, labour organisations, the mining sector, civil society and faith-based organisations who offer their condolences to all families who have lost their loved ones.

The Week of Mourning began on Monday (20 August) and ends on Sunday, as announced by President Jacob Zuma. Through the service, the Gauteng Provincial Government aims to commemorate the lives of all South Africans who have died violently, especially the 42 miners and two policemen who were killed in various incidents in Marikana.

The President has declared Thursday 23 August as the official day for memorial services to be held around the country to mourn and promote a violence-free society.

“We urge all members of the public to come to the memorial service and show Gauteng’s sympathy to all who lost their lives. Our prayers are with the families of the deceased and those who were injured in the Marikana tragedy,” said Premier Mokonyane.

“We also implore the workers’ representatives and labour unions to find an amicable way of resolving their disagreements. Violence and fighting are never the foundations of any lasting solution,” she said.

Members of the public are being alerted that several roads in and around the Johannesburg City Hall will be closed on Thursday. The Johannesburg Metro Police Department has more details on that.

President Zuma said the mourning period is also for the eight members of the community-based anti-stock theft group that were killed in Pomeroy near Msinga in KwaZulu-Natal.