Marikana massacre a reminder of dangers posed by ‘unchecked authority’
The former vice president of the Minerals Council of South Africa, Andile Sangqu, says the Marikana massacre is a reminder of the dangers of unchecked power.
This year marks the 12th anniversary of the tragedy, where 34 striking mineworkers were killed and 78 injured when police opened fire on them at the Lonmin platinum mine near Rustenburg.
It came after miners embarked on an unprotected strike demanding a wage of R12,500 a month.
Sangqu gave the keynote address at Tuesday's 5th annual Sibanye Stillwater Marikana lecture.
“The reality is that power is a central determinant as stakeholders and businesses often find their interests unaligned,” he said.
“Where there is a failure to acknowledge and manage power asymmetries, stakeholder engagements as tools for solving complex social problems may not live up to expectations.
“Let us look at what is good amongst us, to use the moment of deep pain and sorrow to rid ourselves of deep-seated anger, sadness, emptiness and despair. To remind us of what could go wrong if the power that we have is not checked and moderated.”
Sangqu urged the government, mining companies and communities to respect the rights of miners.
“The interconnectedness of our sense of humanity is not to be taken for granted. Our feelings, aspirations and ambitions need to be expressed, shared, embraced and respected.
“We are more than work, we are more than a mine, we are more than our jobs, we are connected by a deeper sense of humanity.
“For true shared value to be created, it must be collectively defined and co-created. It must be communicated along with the commitments to its co-creation. There has to be a deep commitment to accountability, transparency and openness,” added Sangqu.
The Department of Justice has thus far paid R352 million to families affected by the Marikana massacre.
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