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NUM calls for the compensation of all Marikana massacre victims

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NUM calls for the compensation of all Marikana massacre victims

Press Statement , 16 August 2022

NUM calls for the compensation of all Marikana massacre victims

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) calls for the compensation of all the Marikana massacre victims including those killed before the Marikana tragedy. The NUM would also like to see the immediate implementation of the Social Labour Plans (SLPs) that would directly address the issue of housing and local economic development.

As the NUM we continue to ask ourselves why we are still divided on what happened in Marikana, ten years later.

The Marikana massacre in which 44 people were killed ten years ago should have by now served as an eye opener to many of us, and in particular, the mining industries in this country.

On August 16 2012, 34 people, mostly striking miners, were killed and 78 people were wounded at a hill near Lonmin's platinum mining operations at Marikana, near Rustenburg in North West.

In the preceding week, 10 people, including mineworkers, two police officers and two security guards, were killed in the strike-related violence. The NUM’s call has always been that those victims must also be remembered. Those workers who were at Marikana in August 2012 were affected across trade union allegiance.

Instead, this unfortunate event by so far exposed the lack of integration of the industry and the national transformation by the way of giving black mineworkers sufficient compensation and proper accommodation to reclaim their human dignity. It also exposes the mining bosses’ inability to implement Social Labour Plans to address issues of local economic development.

At this point, nothing has been done to improve the lives of mineworkers and their immediate communities.

The status quo of Neo-liberalism and austerity continues to make the rich richer and the poor poorer. The recent developments of striking workers in the gold and the energy sectors are a demonstration of workers' commitment to challenge the status quo.

As the NUM we continue to view the month of August, since the 2012 massacre, as one of the most unfortunate months that ever happened in the history of the union’s existence.

It is unfortunate in the sense that what happened has been projected and used by any disgruntled people who want to launch their political relevancy at the expense of the plight of the victims.

As a responsible trade union, we are appealing to people to refrain from politicizing this sensitive event. We should all strive to assist all the victims to find an amicable closure.

What we are seeing today are political realities beyond trade union segmentation and all of us should not claim narrow political victories. We should all champion workers' unity to advance the aspirations of those who died and those still alive, which is to have a caring mining industry.

For more information, please contact:

William Mabapa, NUM General Secretary, 082 880 4439

Livhuwani Mammburu, NUM National Spokesperson, 083 809 3257

Luphert Chilwane, NUM Media Officer, 083 809 3255

The National Union of Mineworkers
7 Rissik Street.
Cnr Frederick Johannesburg
Tel: 011 377 2111 Cell: 083 809 3257
Twitter: @Num_Media

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/NUM/10086002340216

 

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About Us
The National Union of Mineworkers was founded in 1982.

Its birth was facilitated by comrades Cyril Ramaphosa who rose to be its first General Secretary, James Motlatsi who turned to be its first President, and Elijah Barayi who became its Vice President and later the President of Cosatu in 1985 when the federation was formed. porn