Zuma won't visit Marikana massacre site due to 'violence in the area'

ANC president Jacob Zuma will not visit Wonderkop near Marikana in North West as planned on Tuesday, the party said.

"Due to the violence in that area, the provincial executive committee took a deliberate decision that the president will instead speak to people in Sonop," said North West provincial chairman Supra Mahumapelo.

"We do not want to draw unnecessary attention... We do not want to give anarchists a platform to advance their agenda."

He said Zuma would speak to traditional and religious leaders as well as some 25 people who were displaced in the Marikana area near Rustenburg.

Local African National Congress leaders had been doing political work in Marikana and would continue.

"It is not for the first time that we have been doing political work. We have done it for over 20 years."

On Sunday, a rally Sport Minister Fikile Mbalula was due to address was cancelled in Freedom Park after violence erupted.

Stones were thrown at cars and two councillors' houses and a municipal building were set alight.

Freedom Park and Wonderkop are strongholds of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), a rival to the ANC-linked National Union of Mineworkers.

Amcu members have been on strike since January 23 in the platinum mining belt demanding a R12,500 basic salary per month.

Zuma was in Brits to canvass votes for the ANC.

ANC supporters ululated and whistled as his motorcade arrived.