Shameful that Marikana issue still not settled

It is exactly six years since striking Marikana miners were mercilessly massacred by the police for demanding an entry level salary of R12,500. In total, 34 people were killed on August 16 2012, while 70 other workers were injured on the day. The strike, which was organised by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), had been preceded by the killing of 10 other people, including two policemen.

Many of the workers were from the Eastern Cape and had been breadwinners for their families.

Despite recommendations from the Marikana Commission and video evidence from the day of the massacre, not a single of the 72 police officers implicated in the killings has been prosecuted.

The police are also yet to institute disciplinary processes against the said officers.

And now, researcher David Bruce has produced a report - titled “Sound of Gunfire” – which found no evidence that the miners had opened fire on the police on Scene 2 of the massacre. This suggests that all the 295 shots that were fired on the scene came from police rifles. This revelation makes it more urgent for the political and the police leadership to ensure that there is justice for the Marikana victims. Equally they should thoroughly investigate the killings that preceded the massacre. Unfortunately political parties use Marikana to score cheap points. The families of the victims rejected a combined offer of R100m as compensation from the government.

President Cyril Ramaphosa, who was a Lonmin non-executive director at the time, has apologised for his role where he had called for stronger action against the miners. He has assured the public several times that the government was committed to concluding the Marikana matter, but six years later the matter has yet to be resolved. But while government has yet to compensate survivors and families of victims, Amcu has kept its promise of building houses for families of victims like Mgcineni “Mambush” Noki – the so-called “Man in green blanket”.

Ramaphosa’s administration owes it to the families to finally close this painful chapter in our young democracy and ensure that a settlement is reached between the families and the government. Those behind the massacre and the earlier deaths must also be held to account.

Ramaphosa's presidency owes it to the families to finally close this painful chapter in our young democracy