South Africa remembers Marikana Massacre four years on

South Africa remembers Marikana Massacre four years on

Tuesday marked four years since the death of 34 mineworkers at Lonmin's Marikana mine in the North West.

Mineworkers, unions, political and religious leaders gathered at the koppie near the Lonmin mine where the lives were lost.

Amcu President Joseph Mathunjwa has slated unions who were in alliance with political parties, saying that the miners were killed due to the alliance between the ANC, Cosatu and the SACP.

 

Mathunjwa said if political parties continued to form unions, they would be forced to turn Amcu into a labour party which would be catastrophic for many political parties.

 

"There is no need for a political party to form a trade union, because if the political parties move to form the trade unions, Amcu will move to the next step to form a labour party," he said.

The violent strike that made headlines around the world saw mineworkers demanding a salary of R12 500 and better living conditions.

 

Ben Magara, the CEO of Lonmin Platinum Mine, admitted the mine has done little to improve the lives of its workers and surrounding communities. 

 

Magara said the company had to shed 6000 jobs in 2015 as is wasn't financially stable.

 

"I know very well that the living conditions that some of you are living in are not good enough. They require a change and I can assure you that we continue to work hard to improve that," Magara said.

 

EFF leader Julius Malema also addressed the workers where he announced a R1 million donation to the Marikana Trust Fund.

 

Bishop Jo Seoka told those in attendance that the widows of those killed in 2012 should not be forgotten.

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