Slain Marikana workers remembered

Slain Marikana workers did not die in vain, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) said on Tuesday.

   

All 44 people killed during wage-related unrest at Lonmin's platinum mine in Marikana, North West, last year, would be mourned at a rally on Friday, Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa told reporters in Johannesburg.

   

Thirty-four people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police on August 16. Ten people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed in the preceding week.   

 

Mathunjwa said he had invited the president of the National Union of Mineworkers, Senzeni Zokwana, to join him in preaching peace in the platinum mining belt. He said Zokwana had yet to respond to the invitation.

   

"Peace is an ongoing process... leaders must refrain from uttering statements fuelling violence."

   

Mathunjwa said the mineworkers and their families wanted full disclosure.   

 

"How can there be any reconciliation without the uncovering of the truth? Yet, up to now we have yet to hear from one police officer directly involved in the shooting. 

 

We are yet to hear from Lonmin who successfully sought to cast this labour dispute as criminal action," he said.

   

-Sapa