About 600 workers stop working at the Royal Bafokeng Platinum Mine on Wednesday in Rustenburg. 
A private security guard mans the entrance to the Marikana platinum mine on August 21 where five days earlier police opened fire on striking workers. The violence left 34 dead. 
Striking workers gather on August 20 at the Lonmin-owned platinum mine in Marikana, 10 days after 3,000 miners began an illegal strike over pay. 
Miners arrested for allegedly being involved in violent clashes between striking workers and police are escorted from the Ga-Rankuwa courthouse, Pretoria, on August 20. 
Mark Munroe (left), executive vice president for mining at Lonmin, sits alongside the company's chief financial officer Simon Scott during a press conference in Marikana on August 20. - Government officials and mine workers are expected to attend the memorial service
- It will be held near the site of the police clashes that killed 34 people
- Two more platinum companies in the nation's mining heartland are echoing Lonmin workers
Rustenburg, South Africa (CNN) -- As labor discontent extends to other mines across the nation, South Africans will gather Thursday to mourn dozens killed when police clashed with protesters at Marikana platinum mine.
Ministers, religious and traditional leaders, and mine workers are expected to attend the memorial service near the site of police clashes.
Protests at Lonmin -- the world's third-largest platinum producer -- started two weeks ago when thousands of rock drillers went on strike to demand higher wages.
Citing self defense, police fired live ammunition into a crowd of protesters armed with machetes and sticks on August 16, killing 34 people and sparking a national outcry.
Ten others died in the earlier days of the protests, including two police officers who were hacked to death.
A rivalry between two unions that wield a lot of power and influence in the nation added to the tension. The unions, accused of trying to outdo each other in negotiating wages, denied instigating the clashes.
The memorial service comes as two more platinum companies in the nation's mining heartland echoed Lonmin workers, signaling spreading instability and labor discontent.
Mine workers gathered at nearby Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum Mine on Wednesday to voice their discontent.
"The situation is stable, is being monitored and management is preparing for engagement," said Mzila Nthenjane, a company executive.
He declined to provide additional details.
Tension, disbelief cloud mine dispute 
Worker dissatisfaction in South Africa 
S. Africa mine CFO: Violence shocked us At nearby Anglo American Platinum mine -- across the street from Lonmin -- a group of workers gave management until Friday to respond to a list of demands. The company said workers have not made any threats to go on strike yet.
In the Lonmin protests, rock drillers, who earn up to $500 a month, are demanding an increase to $1,500 a month. Lonmin rejected the demand and called the strike illegal.
Negotiations between strikers and the company broke down after a week of rising tensions, leading to the standoff as police fenced in machete-armed protesters with barbed wire. Authorities said they first used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.
Officers resorted to ammunition when protesters defied their orders to stop moving toward the police, authorities said.
The mine has reopened, and some workers have resumed working, according to Lonmin.
South African President Jacob Zuma addressed the miners at the Marikana site Wednesday.
"I have already taken a decision to institute a commission of inquiry to investigate every aspect of what happened here. We want the truth," Zuma said. "This is painful to all of us. It is not acceptable for people to die where talks can be held."
