MELANCHOLIC PALL OF MARIKANA

By Omoseye Bolaji

August 16 – yesterday - is the date of my birthday – but alas, the heart-rending events at Marikana last year (2012) in South Africa, have made this date one for sober reflection in the country. This is because of what has now gone down in history as the “Marikana massacre”

Some background information here. The Marikana miners' strike or Lonmin strike was a wildcat strike at a mine owned by Lonmin in the Marikana area, close to Rustenburg, South Africa – last year. The event garnered international attention following a series of violent incidents between the South Africa Police Service, Lonmin security, the leadership of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and strikers themselves which resulted in the deaths of 44 people, the majority of whom were striking mineworkers killed on the day.

On the afternoon of 16 August, members of a contingent of the SAPS, from an elite special unit, opened fire on a group of strikers. 34 people were killed, and at least 78 were wounded. The striking mine workers had gathered nearby Nkaneng Hill armed with spears, pangas, and sticks. A large group of women, not employed at the mine, some armed with knobkerries, joined them. Six guns were found at the scene, one of which belonged to a police officer "hacked to death" earlier during the strike

At least 78 additional workers were also injured on 16 August last year. The total number of injuries during the strike remains unknown. In addition to the Lonmin strikers, there has been a wave of wildcat strikes across the South African mining sector. ^..

Now a year after South Africa's bloodiest post-apartheid labour incident awoke the world to the potential for unrest in the country's mines; the industry still suffers from worker poverty, pay disputes, shrinking profits and a violent union feud.

It is still remembered that squalid living conditions and hard work coupled with indebtedness in a violent crime-ridden environment, contributed toward mounting resentment among the miners.

This was exacerbated by a perception that trade unions, the supposedly democratically controlled shields of the workers, had been mere stepping stones to wealth and privilege for the few.

Yet the sad reality is that now, a year after SA’s bloodiest post-apartheid labour incident awoke the world to the potential for unrest in the country's mines, the industry still suffers from worker poverty, pay disputes, shrinking profits and a violent union feud.

The shooting incident on 16 August last year that the press dubbed the Marikana massacre was the single most lethal use of force by South African security forces against civilians since 1960, and the end of the apartheid era. The shootings have been described as a “massacre” in the South African media and have been compared to Sharpeville massacre in 1960. The incident also took place on the 25-year anniversary of a nationwide South African miners' strike.

The commission of inquiry appointed by the powers-that-be in SA to establish just what happened in the days leading up to the fateful events last year has yet to conclude its work. Retired Judge Ian Farlam and his team were initially given four months to finish their probe but their work has been plagued by numerous problems; including the issue of funding for the deceased’ families to attend proceedings, and also the fact that several key potential witnesses were killed. Despite the challenges, the commission continued probing what happened in the dusty mining town last August.

On Friday yesterday (my birthday), prayers were offered at the rocky outcrop known as the "Hill of Horror" near the Marikana mine where the 34 strikers, many carrying clubs and spears, died in hail of police gunfire when officers moved to disperse their protest last year.

But the fact is; the date is still my birthday. On a personal note, I have been surprised with the plethora of birthday wishes, congratulations, gifts et al that I have received this year - especially as I am considered by many as something of a ‘a recluse and old fogey’ who has always steered away from ‘social networking’ paraphernalia like facebook and twitter. Thanks…