Freed miners give grim details of shootings | IOL NewsCrime & Courts / 4 September 2012, 07:50am / Mogomotsi Magome and Yolande du Preez03/09/2012 Released Lonmin mine worker Nkosibongile Momaphela celebrate with his sister Nomfundo Jali after he was released along with 161 other miners at Ga-Rankuwa Magistrate's Court, Pretoria. Picture: Phill MagakoeNorth West - Marikana miners who were released from custody on Monday have alleged they were chased and shot by police officers long after the initial shooting that was published or broadcast by the media.They said police officers chased and fired at them with live rounds, while others fired at them side-on as they marched.The 162 miners were freed on Monday after the charges of murder and attempted murder were provisionally withdrawn against all 270 miners in the Ga-Rankuwa Magistrate’s Court. The miners were released on free bail.The rest of the miners are to be released when their residential addresses have been confirmed.This follows the announcement made on Sunday by the acting national director of public prosecutions that the murder and attempted murder charges would be provisionally withdrawn and that the miners would be released on free bail.Friends and relatives of the arrested miners came in their numbers to see their relatives and to welcome them after their release.Although there was jubilation outside the court when the miners were released, the relatives of those who had not been released were saddened that they would not see them yet.Miners who were specifically asked about the events that preceded their arrests described in detail how they saw fellow miners die in front of them.One, Pakatsa Mpele, said a group of miners had eventually been cornered by the police and shot at close range.“Look, a lot of things happened there that I cannot even say to you, because they make my heart boil when I think about them. Most of them happened even before the police shootings.“When we were in custody we saw footage on television, but most of the things that happened were not there. There were police officers who were wearing army uniform shooting at us from the sides.“I remember one of my colleagues being shot from behind, he lay on the floor screaming ‘Banqetile (They have finished me)’,” said Mpele.He said he could not believe he was still alive when he saw fellow miners lying dead on the ground.“We were actually cornered by police. We only saw them as we were running back when the other police started to shoot,” he said.Mpele said he would not go back to work until the R12 500 miners were demanding had been agreed to.Nkosibongile Momaphela, who is from the Eastern Cape, said they spent their time in custody praying to be released and for the miners who died.“In jail we could see the videos being played on television, but the videos do not show how people were chased and shot by the police,” he said.“We all ran back when the shooting was taking place, but there were other police who surrounded us.“The videos did not show how police shot at us and kicked us to the ground before we were arrested.“We were made to lie down on the floor when we were arrested while others were lying on the ground.”Nomfanelo Jali was happy that his brother was released, but she is looking for another of her brothers, whom she last saw on the day of the Marikana shooting.She said she had enquired at all the police stations where the miners were held and had checked at the mortuaries, to no avail.“I have looked everywhere, but I cannot find him anywhere. He was at work attending the meeting when the shooting happened.“I have been coming here since last week hoping that maybe they forgot him at the police station or that maybe there was something wrong with the paperwork, but he is still not here.”Nceba Maqhaga was among the people who were disappointed when their relatives were not released. He said he was certain that his uncle, Funisile Feleva, was in custody as he had called home to inform his wife in the Eastern Cape that he had been arrested.“It’s hard to sleep at night, because we don’t know whether he has food and water wherever he’s being kept. The only thing he said was that he had been arrested by the police. We have not seen him yet.“I think he is one of those whose addresses they are still trying to verify,” said Maqhaga.He said he was relieved that some of the miners had been released, as it gave him hope that his uncle might be freed before the end of the week.Although arrangements had been made for the miners to be transported by the police back to Marikana, the men jumped into taxis that were waiting for them outside the court.* Only 145 of about 270 people arrested in connection with the August 16 shooting at the Marikana mine are Lonmin employees.After two-and-a-half weeks of requesting the names of the arrested, a list was sent . The list is numbered up to 270, but contains only 267 names. Numbers 261, 263 and 264 are skipped. Number 40 is illegible on the fax.Police said they had arrested 259 people in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, that 34 were dead and 78 were in hospital. They have since arrested some of the injured as they were discharged from hospital.Lonmin spokeswoman Sue Vey said they had so far identified only 145 on the list as their employees.1. Vayeke Sivuka2. Tsekang Tshepo Moletsane3. Melilizwe Boco4. Silungile Bosanathi5. Mthetheleli Gunguthwa6. Mjolankosiphona7. Simpiwe Kkhuthani8. Lesala Mpana9. Lale Mapyoyisa10. Paseka Ramosebetsi11. Mzwakele Letailana12. Bongani Maqakalana13. Fumdweko Mpokhi14. Thembinkosi Miyco15. Yadisa Fleni16. Zilindile Mahashe17. Thulanyane Julius Thuntsi18. Magwiji Joseph Fundakubi19. Sive Nombewu20. Mbonseni Fezile21. Masilo Piet Madia22. Mayasa Makyaya23. Rapakane Samuel Machake24. Muzikisi Mseno25. Mzudumile Halayi26. Zwebhe Mkoco27. Lungisile Lutshetu28. Khoale Simphiwe29. Pelisa Ndzelu30. Mahau Napo31. Khaliphile Mdiya32. Maxhego Koli33. Sikumbuzo Mthenthwa34. Siyabomsa Velaphi35. Mqomseni Nsethu36. Andile Ghemese37. Steven Mthumzi Lois38. Mntunje Wilson Febane39. Bolompane Ntho41. Sibogile Mfazwe42. Emmanuel Pitso Mpojane43. Kgosi Pyatedi44. Malefetsane Kama45. Thabans Sediadia46. Samuel Motlatsi Molise47. Mkhuluwa Gela48. Obiya Moiolo49. Bolokang Zebulon Mosetlhane50. Stene Clement Khoali51. Loyiso Jako52. Isaac Zwelivumile Sotshangane53. Lefu Senatla54. Edwin Masita Masunyana55. Simthembile Khwati56. Jacob Mokobori57. Siyabuleluza Seokocye Valamba58. Mkhuseli Xhonxho59. Shadrack Zandisile Mtshamba60. Bulelani Tsontsoyi61. Sphiwe Mbuzi62. Siyabulela Mlelo63. Caswell Ksobotlho64. Khumbuzile Siwele65. Sithembele Ntakana66. Molapodi Moepane67. Nyingwa Mkhuseli68. Timello Petrus Mohami69. Sefuli Ephraim Moholotsela70. Ndunguza Sandulele71. Letsaba Augustinus Mahleke72. Aubrey Zandile Seko73. Lunseko Michael Maxixi74. Malepetsane Lesalalesala75. Monde Tia76. Sibusiso Ntubeza77. Simfumene Ntenteni78. Bongani Xhaliswa79. Lennox Mzimasi Name80. Tsholoba Xabisile81. Emmanuel Maqhabasia Raisa82. NkosiphendulGGe Sidayi83. Skosana Lomdane84. Gugulethu Mbungwa85. Mchochisi Makhosonke86. Silimangele Mvakalelwa87. Nkhetse Bernard Lebajoa88. Stanford Ndleleni89. Mbusele Kwedlisa90. Kelebakae Makgetha91. Bonkosi Mxholo92. Amos Yolisile Honxo93. Elvis Buhle Mabodli94. Lefu Michael Molala95. Thembinkosi Nevana96. Mzunkosi Dlungwana97. Mlandeli Myalwana98. Vabaza Ngcisini99. Sipho Dube100. Tandisa Ngomane101. Funisile Feleva102. Mapota Alfred Makhaya103. Fumanekile Dabalele104. Ayabonga Mthimkhulu105. Xibisi Makosadi106. Bongile Siyolo107. Goodman Ndyandya108. Fono Thandikhaya109. Mzonzimo Nicholas Lila110. Zwelihle Nomkula111. Mongezi Tshotwana112. Phumase Ngwenyama113. Tebogo Tsnwaedi114. Tom Magwa115. Mandla Zalisile116. Nkosibongile Nomaphela117. David Tsietsie Sepheko118. Thobizile Khesa119. Lefa Maswetsa120. Phumelele Molse121. Paulos Thobingunye122. Mohlouoa Everret Meteane123. Lulama Tukutela124. David Machesele125. Batata Lonie126. Siphiliba Ndlodovu127. Christopher Mvikelwa128. Zwelemfundo Manyiki129. Khanyisile Mhulempi130. Xolani Boki131. Makhambo Tholakele132. Phomotso Motema133. Bengi Themba Matiwane134. Jim Nlsikela135. Lebohang Mokone136. Sera Jeremia Makaja137. Msebenzi Moyoai138. Ngqulana Aviwe139. Kwebela Mehlabudi140. Cosmos Maltlelebe141. Lunqane Mabutyane142. Yonela Mnqayi143. Moeketsi Mogale144. Ntsikelelo Khutuka145. Sikonati Naudi146. Mokete Nthio Jacob147. Aaron Mtudisi148. Mkhuseli Boswana149. Phumulani Bheswa150. Sibusisi Konco151. Mvoti Semeute152. David Mpakatsa Mbele153. Dlakela Maleika154. Lungiza Mzuluzi155. Molemo Ernest Lemea156. Lwandile Mcinga157. Thabo Mathaba158. Theko Mbitekane159. Mangesi Mpisana160. Lizwi Nkuku161. Gcobani Sydwell Dlepu162. Mfaniseni Norman Ngwenya163. Lougezile Ntembe164. Makosonke Shwalakhe165. Fusi Mohale166. Sicelo Mavuka167. Mlandeli Myazwana168. Mphoto Kgare169. Zangempi Sayisayi170. Motebang Tsoenki171. Makalo Sinapiuyane172. Paris Madikizela173. Andile Dinga174. Siphamaudla Bululu175. Dodal Nywane176. Unathi Emmanuel Keuasi177. Job Nkoebe178. Madlambe Mbongeni179. Tlhakanyane Ktalele180. Sibeko Ngiyana181. Mpho Benjamin Nkete182. Bonginkos Phambanisa183. Leboa Molati184. Mbolegeni Zewele185. Malusi Nkonyana186. Mbuzeli Noontsha187. Sahlulisile Cuqa188. Simon Bfana Kurata189. Mpelanzwe Gqibisa190. Sigagawe Joseph Jalisile191. Mcebisi Memela192. Amos Mdumiseni193. Thembelani Njobe194. Mlamli Mkhala195. Thabang Hansi196. Mawande Same197. Motobelo Jospeh Ramotokolo198. Khutu Ngodeli199. Gcinuyise Ndzuzu200. Johannes Lebuajoang Mokoena201. Thabo Ntai202. Johannes Mashabela203. Sonwabile Phingilili204. Jabulani Ndubani205. Simthembile Nomquphu206. Vuyo Dyani207. Thomas Maphini208. Kojang Richard Sekobolo209. Themba Jali210. Tsokolo Victor Malefane211. Mzwekhaya Siyila212. Kgotso Ramokepu213. Simfumene Tende214. Dawid Tanki Tsotsotso215. Mzobandile Mthukeni216. Zolani Magayiyana217. Frans Butseke218. Mbulelo Matafeni219. Makalang Albert Lenka220. Moatlhodi Seleke221. Mabosetsa Manyahole222. Onke Sobhudula223. Sameul Mawuso224. Lebogang Ramochele225. Mzimasi Tiya226. Bokang Matuka227. Lungelo Futiana228. Tebogo Hlakantso229. Mlindi Kambela230. Bulelani Gqonyane231. Albert Maphini232. Mbochelwa Sibecqa233. Archibald Mataphi234. Eric Sekini235. Thanyane Machabe236. Luyanda Nyangiwe237. Tisele Mpaki238. Mtutuse Mbete239. Pheello Malukle240. Meshack Mzilikazi241. Sebidi Thubeka242. Simphiwe Bongani Mbuthuma243. Sifokoxwana Gqonyana244. Michael Nkoenyane245. David Tsenase246. Mzumzima Eric Rabi247. Thembile Mtsheketshe248. Mgudlwa Lulama Melixolo249. George Moditsaotsile Mosikare250. Khanyile Magxuebelele251. Mbothana Maneli252. Sphindile Nqwili253. Mpumelelo Qwede254. David Kadi255. Joseph Seleke256. Sbongile Vincent Sompa257. Nkosivikile Nqwaga258. Jomba Monwabisi259. Seitebatso Phushudi260. Paulus Fikizolo262. Botho Mantuse265. Zwelinzima Tekemane266. Machatane Neo Edward267. Zama Dyantyi268. Thembisile Madotheni269. Mziwakhe Sikrokro270. Luvo MgcotyelwaPretoria News and The Star
