12 years later, no prosecution for Marikana massacre murders: SERI

Today marks the 12th anniversary of the Marikana massacre in which police gunned down 34 mineworkers at the Lonmin platinum mine near Rustenburg, North West.

At least 10 people including mineworkers, police officers and security guards were killed in the days preceding the tragedy.

12 years on, communities still living in squalor – Sentleeng Lehihi reports

The Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI) says the state has compensated the families of 35 of the 37 mineworkers who were killed in Marikana in August 2012 for their financial loss.

It says two families are yet to receive compensation.

SERI’s lawyer Nomzamo Zondo says, “It’s been the most disappointment that 12 years later there has been no prosecution for the murders that happened on 16 August and it’s even harder because it’s not necessarily that they haven’t happened, but they are in the pipeline. The NPA is still finalising the investigation. General Mpembe together with four other policemen are being charged not only for the murder of the three miners that were killed on the 13 but also the two policemen.”

Sibanye Stillwater took over Lonmin’s operations in Marikana in 2019.

Some observers have expressed concern about the company’s lack of a community outreach programme.

The Sinethemba Women’s Organisation’s Thumeka Magwangqana says, “We are still living in shacks but they said they are building houses for the communities, but the houses that they built were the flats that the miners pay rent for, They are paying rent for those houses and not all the miners stay in those houses, others are still living in shacks with pit toilets, with no water, with no electricity.”

VIDEO| SABC News’ Lizette Labuschagne recalls the events of that day:

-Reporting by Thabiso Moss