We must remember Ramaphosa’s role

Every year around the month of August we are sadly reminded of the Marikana massacre; the plight of the mine workers and brutality of monopoly capital.

It would be immoral of us to want to use this tragedy as a campaigning tool for or against Cyril Ramaphosa, pictured, given his involvement in Marikana.

However, it would be even worse for us to ignore the fact that Cyril was a major role player when this tragedy took place.

Earlier in the year when he officially launched his campaign to run for president at the ANC conference in December, Cyril issued an apology for his involvement in the massacre.

Why would Cyril apologise? Is it because he does feel guilty for his part or he just wanted public sympathy to boost his presiden- tial campaign?

What should scare us about leaders like Cyril is that they will use their proximity to power to oppress anyone who has a different view.

At the time of the massacre Cyril was not in government, but was able to use his weight as an ANC NEC member and shareholder of Lonmin to instruct government institutions to protect personal interest.

It is disheartening that Cyril – a former general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers – today as a billionaire is the one calling mine workers criminals when they call for better working conditions and better pay.

How easily people change.

Lebo Mashishi

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