President Zuma declares period of mourning and appoints coordinating ministerial committee
19 August 2012
President Zuma has declared a period of national mourning from Monday 20 to Sunday 26 August 2012, to commemorate the lives of all South Africans who have died violently, especially the 44 who were killed in incidents in Marikana, North West province.
Ten Lonmin mine employees were killed between 10 and 12 August, and on 16 August, 34 people were killed and 78 were injured.
The period of mourning is also for the eight members of the community-based anti-stock theft group called Isikebhe, who were ambushed and killed in Pomeroy near Msinga in KwaZulu-Natal.
Flags will fly at half mast at all flag stations in South Africa and missions outside the country, from 20 to 26 of August.