Not even doves of peace could defuse the tension at Marikana on Monday as relatives of the victims of last year’s massacre gathered for a cleansing ceremony.

Firstly, three of the 44 families of the miners, policemen and security guards who died in August last year would not take part in Monday’s ceremony, which was marked by the slaughtering of 41 sheep, because the koppie was not the scene of their deaths.

The family of a Lonmin security guard, Hassan Fundi, slaughtered their sheep according to Islamic tradition on a spot separated by a dusty road from where families of the miners were slaughtering theirs.

About 2 000 people attended the ceremony, where a group, some dressed in Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union T-shirts, attempted to disrupt the event by demanding that police leave the koppie.

To keep the peace, the police moved their vehicles out of sight behind the koppie.

Some miners then sang a distance away from the marquee as they boarded buses destined for Impala Platinum mines, where they attended a rally organised by United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa.

The widow of one of the slain miners reflects as a ritual is performed during the cleansing ceremony. Picture: Bongiwe Mchunu

The Star

The miners said they were not going to be part of an event where the ANC was present.

Once they left, the ceremony, attended by North West Premier Thandi Modise and the ANC’s chairman in the province, Supra Mahumapelo, continued uninterrupted.

Families of the deceased were later called to the front, where they were each given a white dove to release.

This was preceded by prayers delivered by various religious leaders for peace, forgiveness and stability in the troubled mining sector, which has been marred by violence and bloodshed since early last year.

Andile Yawa, who lost his son Cebisile, 24, made an appeal for the violence and killings to stop.

“Since last year, people are continuing to die. This must stop, enough is enough. Forgive each other because violence won’t take you anywhere,” he said.

When the ceremony was over, Bojanala district municipality mayor Louis Diremelo, whose council organised the ceremony, said arrangements would be made for the families who were not part of Monday’s event to hold their own ceremony.
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