Picture: (Courtesy of http://www.mg.co.za)

BY PHEMELO MOHUTSIWA

THE United Democratic Movement leader, Bantu Holomisa celebrated Women’s Day with women in Marikana on Sunday. Holomisa said in his statement addressing his supporters that Marikana women cannot celebrate Women’s Day because most of them are widows.

He said the women in this part of the world were subjected to the most painful experience of losing their only source of hope for a meal at the end of the day.

Holomisa said the women were supposed to celebrate the bravery put out by 1956 women who marched to Union Building against use of dompass. “You were supposed to be celebrating the Women’s Day, but you cannot do that because you are now preparing to mourn the death of your loved ones at the hands of democratic government,” he said.

Holomisa was referring to the death of 42 miners who were shot death by police during unprotected strike back in 2012. 34 miners were killed during unrest at Lonmin wage-related strike and another 10 people were killed including two policemen and two security guards.

“I wrote to President Jacob Zuma requesting him for a compensation of the families of the dead mineworkers, to ensure they had food to eat and uniforms for their children to go to school. I also want to encourage you to vote for UDM during the next local elections that will take place next year,” he concludes.

More than 600 women gathered at Marikana to listen to the leader of UDM.

-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews