Johannesburg - Representatives of the families of mineworkers who lost their lives during the platinum mine strike in Marikana in 2012 say they are disappointed that, four years later, not much progress has been made by the government to honour those who lost their lives.
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) president Joseph Mathunjwa, the families’ lawyer, advocate Dali Mpofu and Anglican Bishop Jo Seoka told reporters on Monday that efforts to get the government to compensate affected families and requests for a memorial to be built with the names of those who died had fallen on deaf ears.
They have also urged the government to make August 16 a public holiday.
The group was concerned that the area around the koppie, where the miners spent most of their days during the strike, was not fenced in order to preserve it as a key part of history.
On Tuesday morning, mineworkers, Amcu members and the family representatives were due to hold a commemoration event at the koppie where the 34 miners were shot by police during the platinum mine strike.
“After tomorrow, we will be building up to the fifth commemoration and it would be disgraceful if we get to that event without any movement in terms of looking after the welfare of those who were affected,” said Mpofu.
Seoka said because Marikana was a turning point in the history of the country, the time had come for genuine results.
“You are aware that the workers still live in squalid conditions and work under those conditions underground. If you ask what happened since 2012, very little has happened. I call it cosmetic change,” said Seoka.
He also attributed the shift in the ANC’s voter support-base in the local government elections in the area around Marikana to the party’s failure to address the needs of the people.
Seoka said it was clear that people were angry and intended sending a strong message to the ANC.
“I think the elections reflect the anger of the people. They are making a strong statement. We have been waiting for something to be done... Very little is there to show,” he added.
Even though there has been little to show, Mathunjwa said that one positive outcome in the past four years was that his union had been able to change labour relations.
“A number of the workers joined Amcu; there is no worker that is earning less than R8 000. If they were still with NUM (the National Mineworkers’ Union), they would still be earning R5 500. In these three years, these are the strides that were made to enhance the lives of the mineworkers in the platinum sector,” said Mathunjwa.
The Marikana Massacre Amcu Trust Fund had been established in honour of the late miners and would be launched during Tuesday’s proceedings, along with the names of those who will be responsible for its operation.
While the fund was initiated in 2014, only Amcu has contributed to it with a R2 million donation, with no contribution from the government and Lonmin.
A Lonmin representative would attend the proceedings, said Mathunjwa.
The Star