Five years since the Marikana Massacre
On this day in August 2012, 34 miners were shot dead by police who were deployed to control a strike that had turned violent at the Lonmin Platinum Mine in the North West Province.
The fifth commemoration of the Marikana Massacre will take place today.
An official enquiry submitted by President Jacob Zuma put much of the blame for the deaths on police tactics but to date, no prosecutions have been brought.
The massacre saw South African Security forces using the most lethal weapons on civillians since the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre. The shootings took place at two locations, roughly 500 metres from away each other. The official figure for those injured during the shootings is 78.
The African National Congress says it’s important to record that history while Economic Freedom Fighters leader, Julius Malema laid criminal charges against Deputy President, Cyril Rampahosa in 2015 and others including former Police Minister, Nathi Mthetwa, Police Commisioner, Riah Phiyega and former North West Police Commisioner, Zukiswa Mbombo .
Charges were also laid against Lonmin for the role the mining company played in the shooting of the miners. In 2016, Presdident Zuma released the report of the Marikana commission of enquiry.
