IOL News reports that the Marikana massacre was commemorated on Saturday amid demands for justice for the 34 fallen mineworkers killed during a strike at Lonmin Mine in Marikana, North West, 13 years ago.

The day was marked by calls to declare 16 August as Marikana Memorial Day. The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) announced plans to make the koppie where the killings took place into a memorial site. Prior to the massacre on 16 August 2012, 10 people, including security guards and police officers, were also killed when workers embarked on a wildcat strike at Lonmin Mine. According to the Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI), there have been no prosecutions for the deaths that occurred during the Marikana incident, and no one has been held to account for the physical and psychological injuries suffered by many individuals. “The failure to hold accountable those responsible for these deaths is a betrayal of the promise of justice. Not only does it dishonour the families of the deceased, but erodes trust in our justice system,” SERI’s Nomzamo Zondo said.

The SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) expressed the lingering wounds left by the massacre. Saftu’s Zwelinzima Vavi noted that the Farlam Commission, which probed the massacre, had exposed collusion between the police, political leaders, and mining bosses to “deal decisively” with striking workers. Vavi pointed out that there has been no criminal accountability for those who ordered or executed the killings, and that only two of the commission’s recommendations on Public Order Policing reforms have reportedly been implemented in over a decade. “The state’s refusal to fully implement these recommendations confirms Saftu’s reluctance to participate in any so-called national dialogue. Dialogue without justice is a betrayal to the victims and a mockery to the working class,” he stated.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mayibongwe Maqhina at IOL News

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