Marikana: DA to petition Parliament to establish compensation fund
24 November 2015
The events at Marikana in August 2012 left a scar on South Africa that will take decades to heal. Marikana is definitely the greatest tragedy in South Africa’s democratic history. The tragic loss of life was borne by devastated families, most of whom lost their sole breadwinners and caregivers. Three years later they are still seeking justice, accountability and compensation from an ANC government that has provided none of these.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has therefore today launched a petition, to be tabled before Parliament when it reconvenes next year, requesting that the Minister of Finance establishes a compensation fund to benefit all the families of the victims of Marikana and makes a special appropriation for this fund in the 2016/17 financial year.
We call on all South Africans to show their support for this petition and help to bring justice to those who so desperately need it in interest of fairness and healing.
As a result of the inaction by President Zuma’s government, the families of those who died continue to suffer without financial support. They have been forced to resort to filing a civil claim against the Minister of Police to compel government to compensate them for their loss.
We commend the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI), and the Legal Resources Centre (LRC) and Wits Law Clinic in representing the families of 37 miners in their civil claim. But this should not have been necessary. The families of the victims deserve better than having to resort to a legal process that could take years to resolve.
Our petition aims to expedite this process through the establishment of a fund by Minister of Finance, Nhlanhla Nene, to provide financial support, based on a fair actuarial calculation, to all those who suffered a loss at Marikana. At the very least this fund should compensate families for the loss of income suffered but we urge the Minister to include compensation for emotional shock and psychiatric injury; grief and emotional suffering; loss of family life; and loss of parental care.
Once the petition has been tabled in the National Assembly (NA) it will be referred to Committee on Private Member’s Legislation and Special Petitions in terms of NA Rule 315(a). It will then be left to the Committee to make a recommendation on how to proceed.
Earlier this year President Zuma made a commitment to “achieving swift compensation” and announced that that government would be establishing an alternative dispute resolution process to expedite claims. The President acknowledged that the events are Marikana “include not only the deaths and injuries of striking miners, but the deaths of other miners, security officials and police officers.”
Earlier this month Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa was unable and unwilling to provide details of any progress made in this regard while President Zuma is yet to make any further announcements.
The victims cannot wait indefinitely. President Zuma’s government must take responsibility for what happened and right this terrible wrong. The families of those who died must be compensated.
Statement issued by DA leader, Mmusi Maimane, 24 November 2015
