Most workers continued to stay away from the Lonmin platinum mine in northern South Africa, forcing the company on Tuesday to extend until next week its deadline for employees to return to work or face dismissal.
Only about one-third of the 28,000-strong workforce showed up at the mine, following the deaths of 44 people last week, including 34 miners who were shot to death by police Thursday as they charged at the officers.
"The events of Thursday were not a sudden eruption, but a culmination of events that were building over months and months," Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa told a special session of parliament focused on the deaths.
The platinum sector has been rocked by disputes with workers since the start of the year.
South Africa is marking a week of national mourning. Ten people, including two police officers, had died in the precedings days, as a wildcat strike for higher wages turned into a turf war between rival unions.
