Marikana -The North West provincial government will ensure that services are delivered to the people of Marikana near Rustenburg, Premier Supra Mahumapelo said on Tuesday as the region marked the fourth anniversary of the mass shooting of miners here.
“As the people of Marikana commemorate the tragedy that occurred four years ago, from which the entire society has to draw lessons on the need for peaceful coexistence and stability in the area, the North West provincial government will continue to partner with other spheres of government to ensure that services are delivered to the people of Marikana,” Mahumapelo said.
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) led the fourth commemoration of the Marikana tragedy at a koppie near Nkaneng informal settlement in Wonderkop.
At least 44 people were killed during a violent wage strike at Lonmin platinum mine in Marikana near Rustenburg in the North West province four years ago.
Some 28 000 Lonmin mineworkers went on a wildcat strike demanding to be paid a minimum basic salary of R12 500 per month. On August 16, 2012, 34 mineworkers were gunned down by the police. Ten people, including two policemen and two Lonmin security guards, were killed a week earlier. The policemen and security guards were hacked to death by striking miners.
Mahumapelo said a Marikana reconciliation, healing and renewal committee has been established and grouped a wide range of stakeholders from the area, but not Amcu. “This committee seeks to draw all stakeholders in the area to work together for the attainment of long lasting peace and stability. We are however, still persuading Amcu to join the committee to ensure inclusivity of all stakeholders in Marikana.”
He said the provincial government has, in collaboration with the municipality and the national government embarked, on a housing project that consists of four phases. The first phase is made up of a total of 532 housing units. Of these, 252 are apartments and 292 form part of the Breaking New Ground project. “These houses have been completed. This intervention represents government's direct response to the plight of the people of Marikana.”
The second phase of the housing project was expected to commence as soon as the provincial government had resolved the issue of illegal occupation of houses. One hundred and fifty houses at Marikana Extension Two have been forcefully occupied, with squatters forcing out the rightful owners. Residents were not happy about the allocation of the houses, as they believed the houses were built for miners. The houses stand on land donated by Lonmin.
On Monday, global human rights group Amnesty International, released a report blasting Lonmin for not providing accommodation for its workers. “The catastrophic events of August 2012 should have been a decisive wake-up call to Lonmin that it must address these truly appalling living conditions,” said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International's director for Southern Africa.
African News Agency