Pretoria: The remaining mine workers arrested in connection with violence at Lonmin Mine in Marikana three weeks ago are expected to be released today.
About 152 people, whose addresses were verified, were released on Monday. This followed the announcement on Sunday by National Director of Public Prosecutions, Nomgcobo Jiba, that the protestors would be released conditionally on warning and their case postponed pending the finalisation of investigations.
She said that those, whose physical residential addresses that the police have been able to verify, would also be released in phases, with the rest expected to be released today.
“Those whose residential addresses have been verified will be released today. It’s the last day of this exercise but it’s a developing issue and things may change,” said National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Bulelwa Makeke.
Following intense deliberations by the leadership of the NPA and after consulting with the leadership of the police, the NPA decided to withdraw the murder charge against the 270 Lonmin miners arrested in Marikana, pending the conclusion of investigations.
More than 270 people were arrested following violence that claimed 34 lives during clashes near Lonmin mine.