Compensate and treat all the Marikana victims equally
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) remembers the labour unrest that began on the 10th August 2012 at Lonmin Platinum Mine which resulted in workers losing their lives and some badly injured.
On the eve of the commemoration of this unfortunate incident five years ago, as a union, we join all South Africans, and many millions more across the globe, in remembering the tragic loss of 44 lives.
As the NUM we want to categorically state that the current arrangements of commemorating the event are insensitive as it undermines and excludes other family members. Ten workers, including two police officers and two Lonmin security guards, were killed in the preceding week.
Families lost their loved ones, husbands, sons, and brothers, and in most cases have also lost their only breadwinner. Whilst we understand that no compensation can replace the lives lost and injuries suffered at Marikana, the NUM calls on the government and all parties participating in the discussions regarding compensations to conclude this matter in the interests of the orphans, widows, widowers and the injured.
We applaud the fact that government has resolved to pay R1.1 billion in compensation for the people who were killed in Marikana in 2012. We hope that this compensation is meant for all victims including those who died as a result of the chaos created by Impala Platinum mine before and after the 16th August 2012. Actually, it would be prudent for Impala Platinum mine to have contributed a large portion of this compensation money.