Cyril isn’t off to Marikana

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, pictured, has no intention of attending next week’s commemoration of the Marikana massacre and never indicated he would so, the Presidency said yesterday.

The presidency was responding to a statement by Joseph Mathunjwa, the leader of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), that “those who lost their loved ones” in the massacre did not want Ramaphosa to be part of Wednesday’s commemoration event.

Thirty-four miners were gunned down by police five years ago at Lonmin Platinum Mine during a protracted violent strike.

Although Ramaphosa was cleared by the Marikana Commission of any wrongdoing, accusations that he encouraged the police to act in a heavy-handed manner linger. The deputy president, who was a shareholder of Lonmin at the time, has been strongly criticised for calling on police to take “concomitant action” against the protesters.

Yesterday, Tyrone Seale, acting spokesperson for the deputy president, said: “Reports to the effect that Deputy President Ramaphosa has indicated his intention to visit Marikana on the anniversary are incorrect.”

Seale said Ramaphosa was committed to being part of the initiative proposed by Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, which will culminate in the deputy president making an apology to affected families for the words he used regarding the request for police action. “The feelings and wishes of the Marikana community and the families of the victims are of paramount importance in this sensitive process,” he added. – ANA