Marikana: no justice

THIS week we remember the 34 people killed five years ago at Marikana when police opened fire on them. The men were employed by Lonmin, a British platinum mining company, and went on strike for higher salaries and better living conditions.

They are not the only ones we remember.

Our thoughts are also with the friends and families of the 10 people who were killed by the striking workers in the days leading up to August 16, 2012. They include two policemen, two Lonmin security guards and mining staff.

Retired Judge Ian Farlam led a judicial commission of inquiry into the shootings and presented a report on the incident to President Jacob Zuma.

He pointed out: “This report would not be complete without a condemnation in the strongest terms of the violent manner in which the strike was sought to be enforced, and the brutality of the attacks upon those persons who suffered injuries and who died prior to 16 August 2012.

“The fact that the strikers armed themselves with sharp weapons… and did not hesitate to use the weapons in unprovoked attacks… must point to an intention on their part to use violence at every instance to promote their cause.

“While not detracting at all from the criticisms of the actions of the SAPS, the taking up of arms and the use of violence by the strikers was an important contributory fact to the situation at Marikana developing as it did.”

We highlight this aspect because, as time passed, the story of those who died before that fateful August 16 is fast being forgotten.

The commission made several far-reaching recommendations. Unfortunately, little or nothing has materialised.

In the wake of the massacre, Amnesty International joined a growing voice that has questioned why no one has yet been prosecuted for any of the killings and why no compensation has yet been paid to the families of those who died or were injured.

For the answers, we look to our National Prosecuting Authority and the man who heads it, advocate Shaun Abrahams.

Unfortunately, on too many occasions in recent years, the NPA has, at best, disappointed us and, at worst, failed us.

For the victims of Marikana, there has been no justice.

And too many others in our country feel the same way.