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Ten years after the horrific massacre that claimed the lives of 34 mine workers at the Lonmin Platinum Mine in Marikana, those who have religiously attended its yearly observance have questioned why a decade later, August 16 has not been declared a public holiday to commemorate the lives lost.
Vukani Vula (42), who was at the infamous Marikana koppie for the 10th commemoration of the Marikana Massacre on Tuesday, lamented how government had seemingly neglected to acknowledge the plight of those who lost their lives.
“Those mine workers whose lives were lost 10 years ago lost their lives for the sake and betterment of all mine workers, and it is therefore only right that we all gather on this day to celebrate them.”
Vula was an employee at Anglo American in 2012 and started working at Sibanye-Stillwater in 2017.
READ: Marikana workers plan to put Ramaphosa in the dock in a civil claim
On this day in August 2012, thousands of Lonmin mine workers embarked on an unprotected strike, demanding R12 500.
Sitting among the hundreds of men, women and children who graced the koppie, Vula, proudly clad in a brown sun hat and a green Amcu
T-shirt, added:
“June 16 is a holiday, March 21 is a holiday, so why is August 16 not recognised all these years later?”
This was a sentiment shared and expressed by Nosihle Ngoyi, a representative of the wives of mine workers who lost their lives 10 years ago.
She addressed the 10th commemoration and blasted President Cyril Ramaphosa’s absence in Marikana on Tuesday.
Ngoyi said:
“This day should rightly and deservedly be recognised as an official holiday,” she addressed the crowd, which included mine workers who braved the winds to pay tribute to their departed colleagues.
Ngoyi added: “When Ramaphosa sent the police in nyalas to come and attack men who were simply asking for the bare minimum, no one asked him to, but now he wants to be asked to come to Marikana on this important day? Why should we ask him to be here, what is preventing him from coming to Marikana?”
She further called for those responsible for the deaths to be arrested.
“We want to see them being handcuffed and hauled to prison where they belong.”
READ: Marikana workers plan to put Ramaphosa in the dock in a civil claim
Ngoyi further expressed disappointment at how Marikana was not respected and taken care of.
“This place, together with those who lost their lives here, should be respected and honoured. Why has no symbol been placed here in remembrance of those whose blood was spilled?
Following her address, MC Nimrod Nkosi’s announcement that a representative of Sibanye-Stillwater would address the crowd was met with boos from those in attendance.
