Tag Archives: Marikana

UDM leader woo Marikana women

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Picture: (Courtesy of www.mg.co.za

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

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Farlam inspects Marikana

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Pretoria – A large crowd of lawyers, police officers, journalists and evidence leaders gathered in Marikana, North West, on Monday for an inspection “in loco” by the Farlam Commission of Inquiry.

A lengthy convoy formed along the dusty Lonmin Platinum mine roads as the team moved through areas related to the August 2012 shooting of Marikana miners during a strike.

It was led by retired judge Ian Farlam, who chairs the inquiry, and drove to several areas spoken about during the probe into the shootings.

Several police Nyalas (armoured vehicles) and a water cannon were at the hill where the miners were shot. A helicopter hovered overhead.

Earlier this month, Farlam said the inspection would focus only on areas linked to the shootings on 16 August.

“We are confining our attention to the events of the 16th [August 2012]. We anticipate that it will probably take us the whole day,” he said.

“Parties are requested to communicate with evidence leaders which spots they would want to be inspected by close of business on Wednesday. We have held other inspections earlier.”

200+ arrested

The commission is investigating the deaths of 44 people during unrest at Lonmin’s platinum mine in Marikana in August 2012.

Thirty-four people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with the police on 16 August.

More than 70 people were wounded and more than 200 were arrested. The police were apparently trying to disarm and disperse them at the time.

In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two Lonmin security guards, were killed.

During an inspection in October 2012, two North West crime scene experts led Farlam and his team around the area where the 34 were shot dead.

Warrant Officer Patrick Thamae pointed out where bodies were found near the hill where the mineworkers had assembled in the days leading up to 16 August.

Another inspection was held in March 2013 near Lonmin’s K3 shaft. The commission’s members retraced the steps of miners and police officers on 13 August.

On that day, Warrant officers Hendrick Tsietsi and Sello Ronnie Lepaaku were hacked to death in a confrontation with protesting mineworkers.

– SAPA