South Africa miners to be freed
South African courts are due Monday to start releasing 270 miners arrested over the deaths of fellow workers shot by police, after the murder charges against them were provisionally dropped, AFP reported.
Following a public furore, acting national director of prosecutions Nomgcobo Jiba said she had taken the decision to review the charge.
"The murder charge against the current 270 suspects, which was provisional anyway, will be formally withdrawn provisionally in court on their next court appearance," Jiba told reporters.
A final decision will be taken on the charges after a series of investigations into the shootings, which left 34 miners dead, are concluded.
These include a judicial commission of inquiry appointed by President Jacob Zuma, which has until January to present its findings.
Courts will start releasing the miners from Monday after police verify their addresses, Jiba said.