Global Peace and Justice blamed President Zuma, ANC for massacre of 34 workers at Lonmin mine in Marikana.

By John Chola -18/08/12 Global Peace and Justice Auckland (GPJA) of New Zealand has blamed President Jacob Zuma and the ANC-led government for a shootout at the Lonmin mine in Marikana, in the North West, that left 34 workers dead. (GPJA) spokesperson John Minto has said in an open letter to President Zuma that the government had "blood on their hands". "Just as we held the apartheid regime responsible for the massacres in the 70's and 80's, we now hold the ANC government responsible for the massacre of striking mineworkers," Minto said. He stated in a letter to Zuma that members of GPJA have watched with growing alarm at the direction the ANC leadership has taken South Africa since the first democratic election in 1994. "Under the ANC we have seen South Africa change seamlessly from race-based apartheid to economic apartheid," he regretted. He said the strike came as a result of the ANC's choice to follow free-market economic policies. "Such policies had always transferred wealth from the poor to the rich and stripped hope from the majority" he said. Minto said the struggle for liberation is not aimed at placing a few black faces at the top table in South Africa. South African Press Agency has learnt that New Zealand-based media outlet 3 News reported today that GPJA protesters attacked the South African consulate building in Auckland in response to the shooting. They used red paint bombs to splatter the walls and windows and stuck the open letter on the door. A total of 34 people were killed in a shootout that erupted near the mine on Thursday when police tried to disperse striking miners. More than 78 people were injured while another 10 people had been killed in the violent protests at the mine over the past week. President Jacob Zuma visited Lonmin yesterday where he condemned the violence. He called for an inquiry into the incident. Ends...///