PROVINCIAL WORKING COMMITTEE STATEMENT
The African National Congress (ANC) in KwaZulu-Natal held its ordinary Provincial Working Committee (PWC) meeting on August 20, 2012 at the Battlefield outside Dundee.
Before the PWC meeting, PWC members visited all ANC branches in the area to assess the state of the organisation and service delivery. The main aim of this programme is to ensure that municipalities function and focus on issues that affect our people.
The PWC expressed shock at the incident that took place at Lonmin's Marikana mine in the North West Province. The PWC believes that the incident could have been avoided through proper engagement between the unions and the management of the mine. It is unfortunate that the situation ended up costing many lives.
The ANC commends President Jacob Zuma for cutting short his trip to a SADC meeting in Maputo to return home to address the situation at the Lonmin mine following Thursday's massacre.
We send our sincere condolences to the mine workers, the police and the general residents of Marikana. Our prayers are with the families of the deceased and we call on all South African citizens to join hands in providing help and support to all the victims.
We believe it is not the time to point fingers, but for the whole nation to mourn this unfortunate incident.
We also call on the unions and the management to try and engage further on negotiations and find an amicable solution to this problem.
The PWC welcomes the National Prosecuting Authority's decision to withdraw charges against the Speaker of the KZN Legislature, PeggyNkonyeni, and MEC for Economic Development and Tourism Mike Mabuyakhulu.
We call on political parties to stop using the withdrawal of the charges for political gain. We have noticed that when there is a decision against our members or leaders, political parties applaud the judiciary but the moment our members are exonerated, they say it is because of interference.
The PWC is saddened by the killing of Comrade Jimmy Lembethe, a ward councilor in Umtshezi Municipality and we would like to convey our condolences to the family and friends. The ANC appeals to the community to assist the police in tracking down the killers
It is unfortunate that these incidents continue to happen even after the national Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa has established a team to investigate politically- related killings in KwaZulu-Natal. The senior leadership of the ANC led by Comrade Zweli Mkhize visited the Lembethe family yesterday (August 17)
Statement issued by Sihle Zikalala, ANC KwaZulu-Natal provincial working committee, August 21 2012
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