The North West Provincial Government has began consultation processes and engagements with role-players to ensure that lasting peace and stability is restored to end violent conflicts in the mining sector,  North West Premier Thandi Modise declared at the cleansing ceremony held at the infamous Marikana koppie on Tuesday.

In appealing for calm, tolerance, respect and dignity in her address to about 2000 people who were part of the ceremony, Premier Modise appealed to parties involved in the conflict to denounce violence and work for peaceful co-existence.

 “As the provincial government we have started the engaged Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) and will be engaging the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and Lonmin in the coming week. One more death is a death too many. We need to take steps to reconcile, end the violence and focus on development in this area,” said Modise.

Whilst acknowledging that the province’s scope for intervention in issues of mining and labour are limited, she said that conditions of employment and other social responsibility issues such as housing are among some of the issues that the provincial government will discuss with Lonmin Management as the ongoing conflicts affects the province directly.

Premier Modise commented the Executive Mayor of Bojanala Platinum District Municipality, Councillor Louis Diremelo for the role his municipality had played in supporting the work of the Inter-Ministerial Task Team that was established by President Jacob Zuma to support the families in the aftermath of the tragic incident that left 44 people dead and for organising the cleansing ceremony which cost the provincial government and the municipality R1 million.

The Premier announced that the provincial government has set aside R75 million for a recreational centre for the benefit of the youth and the community to be build in Nkaneng.   

The emotional ceremony was graced by among others the Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature, Supra Mahumapelo, Representatives of Congress of Traditional Leadership of South Africa. Advocate Dali Mpofu representing the families at the Farlam Commission and the Executive Mayor of Rustenburg Councillor Mpho Khunou.