South African police kill 35 striking miners

The South African police last week machine-gunned 35 striking miners to death, during clashes which have been going on for some time. During the confrontation the miners rightly refused to move away after police threats. When a group of miners appeared to move forward the police opened fire. After the shooting died down 35 miners were dead and many others were injured. There is now an investigation going on and the miners are being mourned nationally.

The police claim that they acted in self defense because they feared that the miners were going to attack them. A ridiculous claim because the police were armed to the teeth and the miners did not have a single firearm. The incident appeared to shock the world because it awoke memories of the old South African police under the apartheid system. But in fact the incident should surprise no one, even though the apartheid system has been abolished.

South Africa is not a socialist state under the control of the people. The police in South Africa have the same job as police forces in all the capitalist countries; protecting en supporting the ruling elite and the system. Any claim that they are there to protect the people is a complete lie.

We condemn the murders committed by the South African police and give our full support to the striking miners and their families. The South African working class should seize control of the country to prevent such barbarity in the future. We must not forget that any police force under capitalism is capable of such acts, including the police forces in the European countries. Always remember who your enemies are, those who forget pay a high price.