Marikana: Three years on, workers call for justice, but justice doesn't come

On Sunday, a crowd of roughly 20,000 gathered on and around the koppies of Marikana to commemorate the third anniversary of the tragedy, which saw the South African Police Services gun down 34 striking miners, injuring a further 78.

Photo: There was a significant police presence at the third commemoration of the Marikana massacre on Sunday but they parked their vehicles a distance from the event. (Greg Nicolson)

The memorial service doubled as a speaking circuit for the country’s opposition politicians and union leaders. Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane was one of the first to speak, and he used the opportunity to pitch a government that would preside over “a police service fully equipped, trained and mandated to keep the peace rather than unleash a wave of violence on those it (is) sworn to protect”.

Photo: Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union supporters march home from the commemoration, with the koppie in the background. (Greg Nicolson)

Although the DA under previous leader Helen Zille was seemingly reluctant to take up the miners’ cause, Maimane struck a decidedly different note. “Those directly affected by the tragedy that was Marikana must be compensated for their loss,” he thundered. “The widows and family members of those who died must receive justice.”

But Maimane stopped short of endorsing the call for R12,500 across-the-board wages called for by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu). That was certainly not the case when Julius Malema made a surprise appearance. Malema was not scheduled to speak, but in characteristic fashion he arrived after Amcu leader Joseph Mathunjwa, and made his own rousing entreaty while the heat ravaged those standing on the clearing and on the koppie.

Photo: Under the glaring North West sun, men march and sing in Marikana during the speeches of the massacre's commemoration. (Greg Nicolson)

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) commander-in-chief demanded R10-million compensation for the family of each murdered mine-worker, and R5-million for every injured miner. He hammered away at Lonmin CEO Ben Magara: “We had hoped that a black person will understand, only to find that the CEO is black outside and white inside. He represented the company to defend murder.”

Photo: The symbol of the Marikana massacre is often the koppie, on the right, where the commemoration took place. But a few miners chose to watch the event from the "killing koppie", scene two of the killings on 16 August 2012 where 17 people were killed by the police after the first killings were caught on camera. (Greg Nicolson)

The event felt more like a muscle-pulling contest between two opposition candidates, and there was little of the melancholy and genuine emotion normally associated with memorials. In the crowds, most of those the Daily Maverick spoke to were done mourning, and wanted the compensation part of the proceedings to commence.

“We are not satisfied with Lonmin or the ANC (African National Congress), it is not alright, and we are not satisfied with that guy who wrote the commission,” said Sandiso Faku, an assistant surveyor at Lonmin in reference to Ian Farlam, who penned the highly controversial Farlam commission report. “We want justice already. And we want R12,500.”

Photo: A man burns a Cosatu T-shirt in an act of defiance. EPA/SHIRAAZ MOHAMED

That sentiment was echoed by Sidwell Dabula, who was bussed in by Amcu from the Kopanang mine in the Free State. “If you see the results of the commission, it is not acceptable,” he said. “It is unfair. According to me, at this event we see how the government of SA works with the mining industry. In other words, they don’t care about those of us who actually work in the mining industry.”

Photo: Mineworker Bongile Siyolo lies in the same spot and position where he says he hid on 16 August 2012 at scene two when he says he was hiding from the police and a volley of bullets. On the morning of the third commemoration, he came to the same spot to pray for those who lost their lives. (Greg Nicolson)

Speaking of the government, there was almost no sign of the ANC, and the rally—at least according to the regalia worn by those in the crowds—was an all-EFF and Amcu affair. And while there were a few prayers, and a fiery promise of more “demonstrations” to come from Mathunjwa, the memorial took place under the shadow of 6,000 job cuts that Lonmin now insists are necessary amid plunging commodity prices.

Those in the crowds seemed to understand the message. They were demanding justice, while aware that in situations such as these, the house plays to win, and rarely loses. DM

Photo: Thousands of people gathered on and in front of the Marikana koppie on Sunday to commemorate three years since 34 people were killed by the police. During the 2012 strike at Lonmin, workers based themselves on the koppie. (Greg Nicolson)