The Congress of South Trade Unions commemorate the 07th anniversary of the tragic events of Marikana that took place between 10 August 2012 – 20 September 2012 and led to 44 mineworkers losing their lives. The Marikana tragedy stands as a shameful symbol of how the post-1994 democratic system has failed the mineworkers.
The Marikana tragedy remains a sad reminder of what happens when the government of the people abandons a people-centred developmental agenda but chooses to serve the bourgeoisie and white monopoly capital. The tragedy of Marikana is a classical example of the immorality of Capitalism, its festering greed and government treachery.
The Marikana tragedy did not bring any changes as the families Lily Mine missing miners {Mrs Pretty Mabuza, Mr Solomon Nyarenda and Ms Yvonne Mnisi}, who are still trapped underground at Lily Vantage gold mine in Mpumalanga since the 15th of February 2016 can attest.
The mine bosses have to acknowledge and confront the fact that they are primarily responsible for fostering discord and violence in many workplaces in the sector. The undeniable fact is that it is their quest for super profits that has created orphans and cost workers their lives.
The legacy of the Marikana killings should be about changing the conditions of the mine-workers and holding the mining companies accountable for the damage that they have inflicted on the workers and communities for the last hundred years. Unfortunately, we will not be able to achieve any of this because some have decided to hijack Marikana for narrow political ends.
We should all use the Marikana commemoration to demand more action and accountability from the mine bosses and our government.
Issued by COSATU
Sizwe Pamla (Cosatu National Spokesperson)
Tel: 011 339 4911
Fax: 011 339 5080
Cell: 060 975 6794