SAfrica: Striking miners allege police murders

[September 05, 2012]  MARIKANA, South Africa (AP) -- Striking miners charged that South African police dragged an injured colleague from his hospital bed and killed him.

The allegation adds to accusations that police have used excessive violence against the strikers, following the Aug. 16 police shootings in which 34 strikers were killed.

Some protesters Wednesday waved a photograph of a young man named Noki M. Mgcineni. They said Mgcineni was shot in the foot on Aug. 16 and was taken to a hospital.

"Police then went to the hospital and dragged him away. They beat him up and they killed him. We found him in the mortuary," alleged Xolani Mzuzu, a striking miner.

He said several people were waving the same photo. "We consider him a hero, like Chris Hani," said Mzuzu, referring to a murdered anti-apartheid activist.

[Associated Press; By MICHELLE FAUL]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.