SOUTH Africa’s National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) marked the ninth anniversary of the Marikana massacre today by saying that the police killing of 34 trade unionists should cease to be politicised.

“The National Union of Mineworkers views August … as one of the most unfortunate months that ever happened in the history of its existence,” said acting general secretary William Mabapa.

But Mr Mabapa added that the killing of striking miners at global mining conglomerate Lonmin’s mine in the Rustenburg platinum belt was being exploited by “disgruntled people” to push a political agenda.