BusinessLive reports that a lawyer representing wounded and arrested Marikana mine workers has not been formally approached by the government about a compensation offer. This is despite the state saying last week it had set aside R1.17bn for such a process.
Attorney Andries Nkome said on Sunday it was unfortunate that each time they learnt about the government’s intentions regarding compensation, it was through the media. "This goes towards our clients’ view that the government is just treating them with disdain and contempt," Nkome said, adding that representatives for the affected mine workers were still quantifying the amount owed to victims. Police Minister Nathi Nhleko told Parliament last week that the R1.17bn set aside for compensation would be given to a "certain number of individuals [for] loss of support, injuries and, of course, fatalities". The amount would cover 652 claims made by families who lost relatives, miners who were injured and those who were unlawfully arrested after police broke up the 2012 unprotected strike at Lonmin’s Marikana mine.
- Read this report by Pericles Anetos in full at BusinessLive
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