Former ANC youth leader Malema holds President Zuma responsible for the massacre of 34 mineworkers.

A call has been made for the resignation of South African President Jacob Zuma and his police minister Nathi Mthethwa following the massacre of 34 mine workers at the Rustenburg Platinum Mine in Marikana. The call was made by expelled African National Congress (ANC) Youth League president Julius Malema when he visited Wonderkop, scene of last Thursday’s police massacre.  “President Zuma decided over the massacre of our people.” he declared.

He said police minister Nathi Mthethwa must also resign because the police shot people under his command. “He must resign because he failed in executing his duties.” Malema told the crowd that the police were supposed to protect them and not kill them. “It has never happened before that so many people were killed in a single day and it became normal,” he said.

Malema, who pledged his support for the striking mineworkers, urged them not to retreat and to stand firm on their demand for a R12 500 salary. He said the reason the police shot at the people was because they were protecting the interest of ANC NEC member, Cyril Ramaphosa, who he alleged owned shares in Lonmin. “[It] had a high political connection that is why our people were killed. They were killed to protect the shares of Cyril Ramaphosa,” he said.

He told the gathering that it was amazing that Ramaphosa was able to buy a buffalo for R18m but could not pay them the R12 500 they were demanding. Earlier today, the Shanduka Group, which was formed Cyril Ramaphosa, pledged R2m for the burial of scores of people killed in the Lonmin clashes.

Malema said another reason why he called for the resignation of President Zuma was that he failed in his duty to protect the citizens of the country. “When you were killed, Zuma was still in the country. He decided to go to Maputo, Mozambique and once he was there he was advised that he made a wrong decision. That is why he returned to the country yesterday [Friday].”