Power to the People: South African Miners Protest

Miners are fed up with low wages and squalid conditions.

Embattled Lonmin Mine CEO Steps Down - Ian Farmer, CEO of South African platinum mining firm Lonmin, has stepped down from his position four months after a strike at the company's Marikana mine left 44 people dead. (Photo: AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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South Africa's Mine Uprisings - The decades-long injustices inherent in South Africa's lucrative mining industry reached a deadly crescendo on Aug. 16, 2012, when a wage protest by workers at South Africa's Lonmin platinum mine turned violent as officers opened fire, killing over 30 people and wounding 78.As protests spread to other mines in the country, BET.com takes a look at the incident that started it all. —Naeesa Aziz (Photo: AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

At Last, an Official Message - A week after the Lonmin killings, South Africa's Minister of Defence Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula was the first government official to address the mine workers and apologize for the tragedy. (Photo: AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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At Last, an Official Message - A week after the Lonmin killings, South Africa's Minister of Defence Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula was the first government official to address the mine workers and apologize for the tragedy. (Photo: AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Five Dead in South African Platinum Mine Riots - Clashes between rival unions at a South African platinum mine left five people dead, including one policeman. Police say the angry crowd swelled to 5,000 as workers took to the streets over a battle for membership between a new and a long-established trade union. (Photo: AP Photo/ Leon Nicholas-STAR Business Report)

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Police Off the Hook  - Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega showed little remorse for the action of the force saying, "It was the right thing to do." Angry protesters attacked police with sticks and clubs before they opened fire. No police officers died in the exchange. (Photo: AP Photo/ Leon Nicholas-STAR Business Report)

Fair Wages for an Honest Day's Work - Miners met before the protests began to organize against what they said are unfair wages. The monthly salary for the workers ranges from $484-$605 a month. They are asking for $1,512 per month. By Aug. 22, 2012, similar wage protests had spread to other mines. (Photo: AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

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Fair Wages for an Honest Day's Work - Miners met before the protests began to organize against what they said are unfair wages. The monthly salary for the workers ranges from $484-$605 a month. They are asking for $1,512 per month. By Aug. 22, 2012, similar wage protests had spread to other mines. (Photo: AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

Platinum's High Price - The Lonmin mine produces one third of the world's platinum and shares of the company's stock fell 15 percent since production came to a halt after the killings. In addition to jewelry, platinum is also used in the catalytic converters of cars, fuel cells for electric and hybrid vehicles and in some computer equipment.(Photo: REUTERS/Parivartan Sharma)

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Platinum's High Price - The Lonmin mine produces one third of the world's platinum and shares of the company's stock fell 15 percent since production came to a halt after the killings. In addition to jewelry, platinum is also used in the catalytic converters of cars, fuel cells for electric and hybrid vehicles and in some computer equipment.(Photo: REUTERS/Parivartan Sharma)

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Outrage Spreads After Killings - Following the shootings, local women came out to protest the violence and search for missing loved ones. Many workers and residents of the nearby town expressed anger that President Jacob Zuma did not immediately rush to the community in the wake of the tragedy.    (Photo: AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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Outrage Spreads After Killings - Following the shootings, local women came out to protest the violence and search for missing loved ones. Many workers and residents of the nearby town expressed anger that President Jacob Zuma did not immediately rush to the community in the wake of the tragedy.    (Photo: AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

South Africa - There’s no legal right to bear arms in South Africa and the legal age for possession is 21 years old.Applications for a firearm license include background checks that consider criminal, mental, medical, domestic violence, addiction, employment and previous firearm license history. Third-party character references are also required. (Photo: AP Photo)

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Apartheid Era Memories - Archbishop Desmond Tutu said the protest killings reminded him apartheid-era police crackdowns."When we consigned apartheid to history, we said never again would it happen that our police and our soldiers would massacre our people," Tutu told South Africa's Business Report. (Photo: AP Photo)

Deadly Force Not Authorized - Anti-police sentiment spread quickly following the killings. On Aug. 21, 2012, elected officials announced the launch of an inquiry into who authorized the use of live ammunition at the mine."Government did not plan to have anyone killed," President Zuma said during his visit to the mine on Aug. 22, 2012. (Photo: AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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Deadly Force Not Authorized - Anti-police sentiment spread quickly following the killings. On Aug. 21, 2012, elected officials announced the launch of an inquiry into who authorized the use of live ammunition at the mine."Government did not plan to have anyone killed," President Zuma said during his visit to the mine on Aug. 22, 2012. (Photo: AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

"Many Will Die" - Fueled by both the killings and the fiery rhetoric of former ANC Youth Leader Julius Malema, workers vowed to fight to the death in defiance of mine officials and police who urged the miner's to end the protest."You must never retreat, even in the face of death," Malema told the miners. "Many people will die as we struggle for economic freedom." (Photo: AP Photo)

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"Many Will Die" - Fueled by both the killings and the fiery rhetoric of former ANC Youth Leader Julius Malema, workers vowed to fight to the death in defiance of mine officials and police who urged the miner's to end the protest."You must never retreat, even in the face of death," Malema told the miners. "Many people will die as we struggle for economic freedom." (Photo: AP Photo)

Praying for Better Conditions - A report by the Bench Marks Foundation, a church-linked organization that monitors corporate responsibility, found that living conditions for South Africa's platinum miners are the worst in the country."This is no way to live or grow children. Fifty people share one toilet. We don't have water," the wife of a striking rock drill operator who shares a one-room tin box with her husband and two children told Reuters. (Photo: AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

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Praying for Better Conditions - A report by the Bench Marks Foundation, a church-linked organization that monitors corporate responsibility, found that living conditions for South Africa's platinum miners are the worst in the country."This is no way to live or grow children. Fifty people share one toilet. We don't have water," the wife of a striking rock drill operator who shares a one-room tin box with her husband and two children told Reuters. (Photo: AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

Hopeful for Reconciliation - A faith-based group has stepped in to advocate on behalf of the miners in efforts to get the protesters back to work — but this time, in better conditions.  (Photo: AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

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Hopeful for Reconciliation - A faith-based group has stepped in to advocate on behalf of the miners in efforts to get the protesters back to work — but this time, in better conditions.  (Photo: AP Photo/Denis Farrell)