"I will send a message to the employer that you demand R12,500. I have not met the employer yet, so I do not know their view on this."

Zuma visited Nkaneng in Wonderkop on Wednesday afternoon to listen to the striking workers.

Worker leader Xolani Nzuza briefed Zuma about the events that ended in police shooting dead 34 people last Thursday, and wounding 78.

Nzunza told Zuma that the strikers wanted the mine to pay all workers R12,500 a month.

Zuma said he had come to listen to the workers about what happened on the day of the shooting.

"I hear that you are saying you won't leave here until you get the money you want. I was not aware of any agreement between government and the employer that you must be killed as you say. That must be investigated."

A commission of inquiry would investigate every aspect of what happened, he said.

Zuma said he was in Mozambique on government work at the time of the shooting and came back before scheduled because he "had been shocked that so many people had died".

He told the workers that he met national police commissioner Riah Phiyega on Friday when he visited Marikana and could not speak to them "as it was late".

"I managed to go to the hospital where some of the injured workers told me what happened."

Zuma later left Marikana for a scheduled event in Mafikeng.