The images of Thursday’s Lonmin shooting are still fresh in the minds of people all around the world. While some Lonmin employees are returning to work for fear of losing their jobs, some face the difficult task of accepting reality in the aftermath of the shooting, including the SAPS.

Speaking at the funeral of Warrant Officer Sello Ronnie Lepaku on Sunday, The Sowetan newspaper quoted Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega saying the following about the incident:

Safety of the public is not negotiable. Don’t be sorry about what happened.

We confront, every day, heartless criminals who are gunning for our lives. You can put yourselves in danger a thousand times and come out unscathed or just once and not make it. You never know in advance how things will turn out and that is our line of work.

Lonmin has urged the rock drill operators to put down their weapons and return to work today, so that an appropriate remedy can be found between the two parties. As yet, no memorandum of demand has been received by Lonmin from the strikers.

Protests are also continuing outside Ga-Rankuwa Magistrate’s Court near Pretoria, where hearings are being held into public violence related to the illegal strike. Government is yet to announce the details of the commission of inquiry into Thursday’s shooting.

[Source: M&G]