A report into the 2012 massacre of dozens of South African miners has called for a criminal investigation into the police officers who carried out the shootings.<br /><br /> The inquiry also found that mine operator Lonmin had failed to prevent the violence and meet the reasonable wage demands of its striking workers.<br /><br /> Clashes took place over several days during a wildcat strike after many men brought weapons to the picket line. It culminated in the mass shootings by police on August 16th.<br /><br /> Announcing the findings of the commission, South African President Jacob Zuma said: <br /><br /> “The police operation should not have taken place on 16 August because of the defects in the plan.<br />The Commission has found that it would have been <br />impossible to disarm and disperse the strikers without significant bloodshed.”<br /><br /> South African police were blamed for excessive use of force and the miners’ union slammed for inflaming an already tense situation.<br /><br /> Police have always claimed self-defence.<br /><br /> As well as the de
