<P> National police commissioner Mangwashi Victoria Phiyega, a former social worker who was appointed on 13 June, stated police had acted in self - defense, saying, "This is no time for blaming, this is no time for finger - pointing . It is a time for us to mourn ." Phiyega presented aerial photography of the events which she claimed demonstrated that the strikers had advanced on the 500 strong police force before they had opened fire . </P> <P> The Ministry of Safety and Security issued a statement that read while protesting is legal, "these rights do not imply that people should be barbaric, intimidating and hold illegal gatherings ." The ministry defended the police's actions, saying that this was a situation in which people were heavily armed and attacked . </P> <P> The Independent Police Investigative Directorate of South Africa (IPID) announced an investigation into the actions of the police force in the deaths: "The investigation will seek to establish if the police action was proportional to the threat posed by the miners . It is still too early in the investigation to establish the real facts around this tragedy ." </P> <P> On 21 August, Defense Minister Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa - Nqakula became the first South African government official to apologise for the shooting and asked for forgiveness from angry miners who held up plastic packets of bullet casings to her . "We agree, as you see us standing in front of you here, that blood was shed at this place . We agree that it was not something to our liking and, as a representative of the government, I apologise...I am begging, I beg and I apologise, may you find forgiveness in your hearts ." </P>

Who were the miners and what were their lives