Marikana Massacre Victims and Families Seek Apology from President Cyril Ramaphosa After 13 Years

• Victim and family members of the Marikana massacre want President Cyril Ramaphosa to formally apologise
• After 13 years the victims and family will head to court to force the president to take accountability
• on 16 August 2012 police shot and killed 34 striking mineworkers at the Lonmin mine in the North West

After 13 years, the victims and families of the 34 mineworkers killed in the Marikana massacre, will head to the courts to force President Cyril Ramaphosa to issue a formal apology.

What do the victims say?

A victim and former mineworker recalled that on the day of the massacre police allegedly said that it's D-day before the shooting. The victim said that he gets very emotional when he thinks about the shooting. He said that he didn't know how he survived the gunfire.

It is alleged that President Ramaphosa said that he would visit the victims last year, 2024. The victims said that they would allow Ramaphosa there because they want to hear what the president has to say.

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Workers want Ramaphosa to apologise

The lawyer of the victims, Andries Nkome, said that victims want an apology from Ramaphosa. He said that they wanted the president to do this voluntarily. Nkome said that 13 years later the president still failed to apologise.

He said that the victims have no other choice but to force Ramaphosa to formally apologise by taking him to court.

What happened in Marikana?

Police shot and killed 34 mineworkers on 16 August 2012. The workers from the Lonmin mine in the North West were striking for a salary increase of R12000. In the six weeks of the strike, 10 more people were killed, including security and police.

The deputy police commissioner at the time, William Mphemphe, and several other members were charges with the murder but were later acquitted of the charges. No prosecution has been brought forward for the massacre.

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South Africans weigh in

Social media users shared their opinions regarding the Marikana massacre.

@simphiwe_n54295 said:

"OK, we know and we have accepted that we cannot change how politicians mess us around."

@SJmaboea91 said:

"Really you guys are out of something to complain about straight."

@Terrance567891 said:

"13 years ago, Malema and Zuma instigated the massacre. They trying very hard to blame CR which has Failed Miserably."

@IzzymashIsrael said:

"People die everytime but we don't use their tragic death for political point scoring. How many people die after EFF RALLY'S? and we still move on as a nation."

@Sonwabi55176643 said:

"Untill today there is evidence that president Ramaphosa killed those workers but what we know Brenda used ukufa kwabo to form EFF."

@SongezoW91558 said:

"So what we must do about that now? Heyi Sihle Lonzi kwedini we have our own problems siyalamba nathi mfondini asizuxelelwa into eyi 1 apha every year. Those mine workers they kill others too & they were ready to kill more so futseeek marn."

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No prosecution after Marikana massacre

In a related story, Briefly News reported that the Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI) is disappointed that nobody has been prosecuted for the Marikana Massacre.

16 August marks the 12th year the massacre took place at the Lonmin Mine in Marikana, North West, and SERI slammed the criminal justice system. South Africans were still pained by the massacre, and many were hurt that nobody was arrested or sent to jail.

Source: Briefly News