Ramaphosa a no-show again
MARIKANA MASSACRE: PRESIDENT SEEMS TO BE AVOIDING AREA WHERE TRAGEDY TOOK PLACE
Those affected believe a visit would be admission of guilt.
Whether President Cyril Ramaphosa has set foot in Marikana is a question which continues to occupy minds, a decade after the massacre there.
Today will mark the 10th anniversary of the Marikana massacre, where 34 mineworkers were brutally shot and killed by police.
Mineworkers were on a strike, demanding improved salaries, but the situation became volatile in the days leading up to 16 August 2012, with security officers killed.
Ramaphosa was a nonexecutive director at the then Lonmin-owned platinum mine. Lonmin has since been acquired by Sibanye-Stillwater.
In a series of e-mails exchanged between Ramaphosa and Lonmin’s board a day before the massacre, he shows eagerness to end the conflict. However, his choice of words suggested he was opting for a heavy-handed approach.
Ramaphosa demanded “concomitant action” be taken against the strikers. He has since apologised for his choice of words.
However, he is apparently yet to set foot in Marikana or meet the families of the deceased.
Speaking to The Citizen yesterday, Bishop Jo Seoka, who played a leading role in ending the strike and was present during the shooting, said Ramaphosa fears he would be admitting his guilt if he were to apologise to the families.
“If he went to apologise, the man must be prosecuted for collusion that caused the massacre. Even the high court recently found he has a case to answer… To date the man has not shown remorse,” Seoka said.
The High Court in Johannesburg recently ruled in an application by workers seeking compensation against the president and Sibanye-Stillwater that Ramaphosa might be liable.
While welcoming the ruling, Ramaphosa slammed the “politicisation” of the 2012 tragedy.
Asked for comment on whether government would take part in the 10th commemoration of the massacre, spokesperson for the presidency Vincent Magwenya told The Citizen to ask the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) who was invited. Amcu has been leading the main commemoration events held at the koppie where the tragedy took place.
Pressed further on whether the president intends going to Marikana at some point, Magwenya replied: “Once there’s alignment and support from all key stakeholders and I won’t comment further than what I have said.”