Chabane seeks calm on Marikana anniversary

Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane. File photo: GCIS

Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane. File photo: GCIS

Published Aug 16, 2013

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Johannesburg - Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane called for calm, reconciliation and unity during Friday's commemoration of the Marikana tragedy.

“This is a time for pulling together as a nation and working collectively to ensure that, a year after the tragedy, the events of 2012 do not revisit the people of Marikana or South Africa as a whole in any shape or form,” Chabane said in a statement.

Chabane said he was confident the Farlam Commission of Inquiry would get to the bottom of what happened in Marikana last year.

On August 10 last year, Lonmin rockdrillers embarked on an unprotected strike for a monthly salary of R12 500.

More workers joined the strike and the protesters gathered at a hill near Nkaneng informal settlement, some carrying weapons, such as pangas, spears, knobkerries, and iron rods.

On August 16, police trying to disperse and disarm them opened fire, and 34 people were killed.

Ten people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed in strike-related violence the preceding week.

President Jacob Zuma appointed the commission to probe circumstances around the August 16 shooting.

Commemoration events are planned for Friday at the site of the shooting.

An Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on the Marikana tragedy was also appointed.

The IMC is chaired by Chabane. - Sapa

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