The National Assembly is expected to have a special sitting on Tuesday to mark the Marikana mine shooting, while a memorial service for the 44 people who have lost their lives will take place at Parliament on Tuesday at noon.
ANC chief whip Mathole Motshekga had invited the chief whips of all the political parties represented in Parliament to an urgent chief whips’ forum on Tuesday to discuss Parliament’s reaction to the tragedy, his spokesman, Moloto Mothapo, said in a statement.
“Members of parliament from all political parties, together with leaders from various churches, are expected to hold a memorial service in Parliament’s Old Assembly Chamber on Tuesday at 12pm in honour of the victims of the violent protests,” the statement said.
The National Assembly was also expected to hold a special sitting at 2pm on Tuesday “to reflect on this national tragedy”.
Motshekga welcomed President Jacob Zuma’s decision to establish a commission of inquiry to thoroughly investigate the incident and determine the cause and circumstances of all the deaths, “including those of police, security and the miners”.
A team of cabinet ministers and North West premier Thandi Modise was to visit the area on Monday to help victims’ families with funeral arrangements, including transport, identifying bodies and counselling for all those affected.
A number of opposition MPs, including members of Cope and the DA, were also making their way to the area.
A week of national mourning declared by Zuma started on Monday, with the country’s flags flying at half-mast.
Political Bureau