Many a cross still to bear in Marikana
Despite promises, little has improved in workers’ lives
THE landscape is the only thing that has changed in Marikana. Miners still demand a pay rise and residents of the informal settlement, Nkageng, are still without basic services.
The anniversary of the killing of 34 miners by police was marked by a huge commemoration ceremony on Friday.
In the NorthWest mining town a new union has taken control, but workers said their fallen comrades died in vain.
Rasta Sohati, 38, a former rock-drill operator from Flagstaff in the Eastern Cape, said they were still waiting for the R12 500 salary demand they fought for in last year’s wildcat strike.
“Nothing has changed here . . . Lonmin [the mine owner] has lied to the world. I still don’t take home R12 500,” he said.
Sohati was among the more than 3 000 armed workers who gathered daily on the koppie during the strike.
‘‘I was standing with leaders when the police started shooting,” he said. “I ran into the kraal for cover and then ran to a second koppie because we heard the police shooting. People were still being shot by the police.”
The strike began on August 9 2012, when a handful of disgruntled miners dissatisfied with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) marched to Lonmin’s offices.
Tensions escalated, with 10 people killed in clashes until August 16, when police moved in. The day ended in bloodshed.
Rivalry between the Association of Mine and Construction Workers’ Union (Amcu) and the NUM has been blamed for the uprising. This week Amcu, a virtually unknown union last year, signed a recognition agreement with Lonmin as the majority union. This prompted the NUM and its affiliated unions to snub the one-year commemoration.
At least 15 people were killed after August 16 in what is believed to be an ongoing turf war.
On Monday a NUM shop steward was shot in the head while out shopping.
On Friday more than 10 000 workers paid their respects to colleagues who were killed.
Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa received a hero’s welcome when he arrived. He said it was unfortunate that the ANC and NUM had not attended.
‘‘It is a setback . . . it’s the very same players who signed the peace framework and they should put it into practice . . . but it’s not too late,” he said.
Mathunjwa said the struggle for decent wages was continuing.
‘‘It’s about the living wage that still hasn’t been realised . . . no mineworker in the country is earning a dignified salary.”
Among those who attended the memorial were Agang leader Mamphela Ramphele, IFP president Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Mosiuoa Lekota, leader of COPE, and expelled former ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema.
In the days leading up to the memorial service where the massacre took place, Lonmin graders cleared the area, leaving 34 broken white wooden crosses.
About 5km from Nkageng — home to more than 5 000 people — Marikana bustles with small businesses that depend mainly on miners.
Taxi operator Simon Chochoe said he still had not recovered from the losses he incurred during the strike.
‘‘I bought a taxi just before the strike and I was paying it well, but during the strike there were no customers and I couldn’t pay. Things are not okay on Marikana. The two unions are still fighting and people are still dying,” he said.
Lucky Nadangala, a clothing store assistant, said the shop had battled to stay afloat during the strike. ‘‘It’s not the same. People have lost their lives. It was a sad day in Marikana and everyone suffered,” he said.
More than 60km away in Rustenburg, the biggest town close to Marikana, residents are seemingly not interested in Marikana.
A local said: ‘‘It’s these unions, they’re like the Mafia. They’ve ruined the mining industry.”
Among those trying to stabilise the area is Reverend Sakhumzi Qiqimana of Jesus Living Hope Ministries in Wonderkop. He said although change was slow in Marikana, there was hope that the lives of the workers would improve.
“Lonmin and the premier of North West promise that there are plans to improve the living conditions. It just has to be implemented,” he said.
‘‘The church started trauma counselling, and in a year we counselled at least 500 people. When you look into their eyes, you can see their suffering.”