No Marikana for Nkosazana

ANC presidential hopeful Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was sent packing in Marikana, near Rustenburg, in North West, yesterday.

Dlamini-Zuma, pictured, was in Marikana to lay wreaths at the infamous koppie where 34 miners were gunned down by police on August 16, 2012.

More than 30 minibus taxis transported ANC Women’s League members to Marikana where they were met by a group of about 20 Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) members, who stopped Dlamini-Zuma from laying wreaths.

“We are not fighting. We do not want to see what happened here repeat itself. Comrades, get into taxis, let us leave,” ANCWL deputy president Sisi Ntombela said.

At the time, Dlamini-Zuma was inside her car.

Amcu members said no arrangements had been made with them to access the koppie.

“Next time, you will do things professionally,” one of the Amcu members said, as terrified women retreated and got into the taxis.

Members of the media were also not spared.

“Stand that side, you come with the ANC. No, no, stay there. Go with them, leave,” said one man as journalists approached the group for comment.

Last Tuesday, Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane was also stopped from laying wreaths at the site of the 2012 tragedy.

A total of 34 mineworkers were killed when the police opened fire, while 10 other people, including two policemen and two Lonmin security guards, were killed a week earlier in wage-related violence at the mine.

Dlamini-Zuma, who is a former African Union Commission chairperson, was in the Bojanala district of the North West as part of the provincial ANCWL women’s month programme.

Her visits included one to the Ndlovu family whose son, Tebogo, went missing on August 2 after a farmer allegedly shot him for stealing oranges.

His disappearance mass protests. – ANA sparked

We do not want to see what happened here repeat itself. Comrades, get into taxis, let us leave. Sisi Ntombela ANCWL deputy president