Ministers walk out as Juju fumes at Zuma

As thousands of people across the country mourned the death of 34 Lonmin miners gunned down by police last week, President Jacob Zuma announced the terms of reference of a judicial commission of inquiry that will investigate the tragedy and consider whether to recommend the criminal prosecution of those responsible.

But not even this deterred Zuma's nemesis - expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema - from turning a memorial service in Marikana into an anti-Zuma platform.

"The government has turned into a pig," Malema told the assembled mourners. "It eats its own people." .

Malema accused the inter-ministerial committee, led by Minister in The Presidency Collins Chabane, of not doing enough for the workers.

The ANC leaders were unable to respond as Malema claimed that they had attended the memorial service for publicity purposes.

"I want to thank the comrades from the Friends of the Youth League because they paid for this tent. Your government did not pay anything to assist you . The only reason they are here is to pose for the cameras to ensure it can be recorded that they were here," he said to loud cheers.

Several cabinet ministers left the service early. They included Siyabonga Cwele (Intelligence), Chabane (The Presidency), Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula (Defence), and Aaron Motsoaledi (Health).

What was meant to be a dignified service honouring the people killed during protests last week quickly degenerated into mudslinging, with Malema saying that the Zuma-led government had failed and turned on its people.

So hostile was the atmosphere at the memorial service that North West Premier Thandi Modise and others had to be escorted out of the venue.

The Marikana judicial commission of inquiry will be headed by Judge Ian Farlam. It has been given four months to complete its work.

Zuma said the commission would have the power to subpoena witnesses and search premises. It could refer its findings to prosecution authorities for consideration.

Malema again called for the mines to be nationalised.

"We are here with you. You must soldier on. Never listen to cowards."

The committee was dispatched to the mine to help families identify relatives at the mortuary and process death certificates and burial benefits.

On Tuesday, Malema accused Zuma of being a weak leader, saying the way in which the government had responded to the tragedy was not good enough.

Yesterday, Malema once again blamed Zuma's administration for allowing the police to use live ammunition to shoot the workers.

"They must know that their time will come when they will be removed from their positions," he said.

After Malema spoke, Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union president Joseph Mathunjwa walked in with a big entourage, disrupting the proceedings.

The workers gave him a warm reception while chanting "Phansi NUM, phansi [down with NUM].

Though Modise was scheduled to speak on behalf of the government, she, along with the ministers, left the tent - seemingly for security reasons.

Amcu supporters had occupied the already crammed space where the ministers had sat.

Mathunjwa, who was introduced by an imbongi (traditional praise singer), blamed the tragedy on Lonmin, accusing it of back-tracking in the negotiations.

Earlier, there had been a disagreement between the workers and Friends of the Youth League about who would organise the memorial service.

The workers, led by Xolani Ndzuza, eventually agreed that it would be run by the SA Council of Churches and funded by the Friends of the Youth League.

Chabane said last night that this was not the time to score political points but to mourn the dead.

"The event [the memorial service] lost its purpose and desecrated the memory of the departed, who were supposed to be remembered in dignity."

After the ministers had left, an unidentified man was escorted into the tent. He greeted Malema before grabbing the microphone to call for Zuma 's resignation.

"Julius Malema is the president of the ANC. Stand up so that they can see you," he said, before being chased off the stage.

Earlier, SA Council of Churches president Bishop Joe Seoka slammed Lonmin, saying it could have presented the massacre.

"Workers have left their families behind because they were violated by police. People were killed while fighting for their rights," he said.

He accused mine bosses of refusing to discuss a report on the living and working conditions of miners, compiled by the Benchmark Foundation.

Before the service started, health minister Aaron Motsoaledi - who was part of the government committee - had to play doctor to help a woman who had collapsed while sobbing for her husband.

Motsoaledi, who has a medical background, put on his surgical gloves to attend to the woman, apparently a diabetes sufferer.