S. Africa mineworkers union condemns fatal attack on miners

JOHANNESBURG, April 3 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers (MUM) on Tuesday condemned the fatal attack on Monday night which killed six workers and seriously injured several.

The MUM confirmed that a bus which was carrying 39 workers to work at Modikwa Platinum Mine was petrol bombed by unknown people at Driekop in Limpopo on Monday night at 10 pm. Six workers were burned beyond recognition and the other workers had to escape through windows.

"When the bus stopped at Driekop bus stop, two unknown suspects got into the bus and set it alight, using a highly flammable liquid. They then jumped out, leaving behind the bus already engulfed in huge flames," the South African Police Service said in a statement.

It is not known what is the motive of the attack.

NUM called on the law enforcement agencies in Limpopo to hunt down the perpetrators of this evil and atrocious act and arrests them. It said there have been a number of incidences in Burgersfort and surrounding areas recently that led to road closures and trucks burned down.

The South African Police Service's Limpopo commissioner, Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba, has assembled a high level team of investigators to track down the suspects. A reward of up to R500,000 (42,322 U.S. dollars) is also being offered for any valuable information that can lead to the arrest and conviction of the people responsible. Enditem