Malema, union attending miners' memorial

2012-08-23 10:16

Johannesburg - Suspended ANC Youth League spokesperson Floyd Shivambu said he and expelled leader Julius Malema would attend the memorial service on Thursday for the victims of Lonmin mine's Marikana shootings.

Shivambu told the Mail & Guardian Online that he, Malema and suspended ANCYL secretary general Sindiso Magaqa would attend the service both as private citizens and as political activists.

"As people involved in lessening the pain of victims of the massacre, we have to be there," he was quoted as saying.

Although the memorial was organised by government, Shivambu said government officials would not be welcome because workers blamed them for the shooting.

"We don't care what they [government officials] are doing. They are responsible for this mess and we are busy fixing it," Shivambu said.

Former president Thabo Mbeki had been invited to the memorial by the expelled and suspended youth league members.

However, Mbeki's spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga told the Mail & Guardian that the former president would not be able to attend.

President Jacob Zuma would also not be attending the service, his spokesperson Mac Maharaj told the publication.

Meanwhile, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) held a memorial service at Implats mine in Rustenburg, an official said.

"It's not a separate memorial service. We are still going to the Lonmin memorial service. It was just because of the number of people who wanted to attend and it's a distance between Implats and Lonmin," said Amcu secretary Jeff Mphahlele.

"Fortunately, management agreed to give us a day off for those workers to attend."

The memorial service at Implats started at 08:00, while the service at Lonmin Platinum mine in Marikana in the North West was scheduled for 11:00.

- SAPA