Two arrested for Marikana Num steward's murder

Two men have been arrested in Marikana in connection with the murder of Num shop steward Isaiah Twala, North West police said on Thursday.

"The two suspects, aged 44 and 35, were arrested for the murder of Mr Twala that occurred on August 14 last year," said Brigadier Thulani Ngubane.

He said Twala was murdered at a hill in Marikana, where he was shot and hacked to death. His body was found by police on the side of the hill with the skull of a bull.

"The two suspects were arrested last night [Wednesday] by a team of detectives, at Nkaneng and Marikana West informal settlement."

Ngubane said 25 people had been arrested for various murders that took place before August 16, 2012.

The latest arrests brought to 27 the number of people arrested and charged with murder alone.

In total, 574 people had been arrested in Marikana.

The two were expected to appear in the Garankuwa Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

Ngubane said bail would be opposed, as the two men were allegedly linked to other cases police were investigating.

Forty-four people were killed during a wage-related strike at Lonmin's platinum mining operations at Marikana last year.

Thirty-four were killed on August 16, 2012 when police fired on them while trying to disperse and disarm them during a strike.

Ten others, including two security guards and two policemen, were killed in the preceding week.

Lonmin workers demanded a R12 500 monthly salary during the strike. They had gathered on top of a hill near Nkaneng informal settlement armed with knobkerries, pangas, iron rods, and spears.