Five years after the marikana massacre in azania south. The document argues that the term massacre is an appropriate term for describing the killings by the police of 34 strikers on the 16th of august paragraph 10. The marikana massacre, as an historical event, may be seen as a turning point in south african history alexander, 20. This weekend the sons of one of the mineworkers, modisaotsile van wyk sagalala, found out how their father allegedly died. On august, three days before the massacre, he offered a chilling premonition about marikana. The inquiry into the marikana massacre has opened in rustenburg. Pdf this article reflects on marikana five years after the massacre and after. On monday, two north west crime scene experts led retired judge ian farlam and his team. Do nongovernmental organizations bring change or maintain.
Marikana, turning point in south african history by peter alexander. The marikana massacre exposed wheiteness as a major player in our narrative, writes gillian schutte. No evidence strickers fired on police at scene 2 iss, canny maphanga, news24 15 august 2018. South africa remembers marikana miners killed by police. On 16 august 2102, 34 striking miners were killed by the south african police service at a platinum mine in marikana in the northwest of south africa. The marikana massacre on 16 august 2012, strikers gathered for the eighth consecutive day of strike action at the lonmin plc marikana mine in south africa. Mar 20, 2017 its been fourandahalf years since the marikana massacre. The early press coverage of the marikana massacre provides a case study of how reporting can become systemmaintaining, by failing to take workers voices seriously. Colonial tropes and the media coverage of the marikana. The marikana massacre, which took place on 16 august 2012, was the most lethal use of force by south african security forces against civilians since 1976. The shooting incident on 16 august that the press dubbed the marikana massacre was the single most lethal use of force by south african security forces against civilians since 1960, and the end of the apartheid era.
Aug 16, 2012 the marikana commission of inquiry was set up to investigate the massacre of miners at marikana. It provides a classic example of how seemingly ordinary workers developed a critique of the hegemonic discourse of their employers. No hall in the town was big enough to hold them, and no one would have rented one to them anyway. A report from south africa the marikana massacre an event that changed nation a bbc documentary on the massacre in marikana by police on striking mine workers, but takes a broader look on other issues as well. Within 15 months of the massacre, executives from britishowned lonmin, which counts the church of england commissioners and several uk borough councils among its shareholders, have not yet been called to appear before the official commission of inquiry into the massacre. By mandlenkosi ka phangwa august 16, 2017, marks the 5th anniversary of the broaddaylight slaying of mine workers at the lonmin mines in marikana. An exclusive documentary that attempts to shed light on the tragedy known as the marikana massacre. Massacre at marikana sur international journal on human. This weekend the sons of one of the mineworkers, modisaotsile van wyk sagalala, found. The marikana massacre and the contradictions of south africa.
Nov 16, 2015 on 16 august 2102, 34 striking miners were killed by the south african police service at a platinum mine in marikana in the northwest of south africa. On the day of the killing about 3,000 striking miners were gathered on and just below the mountain actually a small hill. Other underground workers also perform heavy manual work. The farlam commission, operating for two years but itself under challenge, is investigating the accountability of protagonists in the massacre, especially the police role. Marikana mamsi ngobeni sat alongside the main road of the platinum belt town of marikana, hunched over a table with a pile of onions, apples, loose cigarettes and tomatoes. South africa the marikana massacre that changed nation bbc. The spirit of marikana is a detailed ethnography story of the micropolitics of resistance that began prior to the massacre at marikana and culminated in 2014 in the longest strike in south african mining history. Causes of the massacre and events leading up the massacre the events which lead to the marikana massacre were caused by violent, unprotected strikes at neighbouring mines. The lonmin strike and wildcat stoppages that followed were organised by rank and file committees. August 29, 2014 telesur english, submitted to links international journal of socialist renewal by the author on august 16, activities were held across south africa to mark the second anniversary of the marikana massacre in which 34 striking mineworkers were slain by state security forces. Loosing profits and generally agitated by these defiant black men and women, the firm broke down the strike by. The incident took place on the 25year anniversary of a nationwide south african miners strike.
Marikana, cheap labour and the 1946 miners strike chris webb puts the lonmin massacre in some historical perspective. A look into the provisions of the labour relations amendment act relating to the limitation on the right to strike. From those first live visuals of protesting mineworkers on. The massacre recalled the kind of violence that was supposed to have disappeared with the end of apartheid in 1994. The attack reminded many people of the massacres inflicted by white supremacist forces during the apartheid era, except this time it was black people who. On august 16, thousands of people returned to the infamous koppies in marikana for the commemoration marking one year since 34 people were killed by. This collaboration was to safeguard the profits in the. No one has been charged five years after the massacre, in which 34 miners were shot and killed by police. Summary and analysis of the report of the marikana. Scene 2 officers speak out article bogdan tagdiv 11 feb 2018 i understand killing someone in self defence, but when i saw the man hiding behind the rocks being shot at close.
Union amcu but have elected a leadership from the rank and file. Crispen chinguno is an icdd phd fellow at the university of the witwatersrand, johannesburg. The marikana massacre has tarnished the reputation of saps which requires significant cultural and attitudinal reform to transform its public order operations. The marikana commission of inquiry report presented damning findings against the south african police service saps national commissioner, riah phiyega, and the senior commanders involved in the marikana massacre. Colonial tropes and the media coverage of the marikana massacre. Dissertation submitted for the degree of master of laws in environmental law in the college of law and management studies, university of kwazulu. South african journalism and the marikana massacre. Nov 19, 2012 nkepile mabuse reports on the legacy of a massacre of striking miners shot dead by south african police during a protest.
Its been fourandahalf years since the marikana massacre. Farlam inquiry concludes marikana hills inspection 01 oct 2012 18. Four days ago, the world pointed the first anniversary of the police massacre that killed 34 platinum miners in the northern town of marikana, south africa. Marikana massacre reports ukzn centre for civil society. The inquiry into the shooting at lonmin platinum mine in marikana on monday. The struggle in marikana is part of a south african strike wave in the mines owned by lonmin, impala, amplats, and others. Following the open fire assault 250 of the miners were arrested. The marikana commission of inquiry, headed by judge ian farlam, found that, just days after the massacre, former national police commissioner riah phiyega, former police minister nathi mthethwa. The marikana massacre and the ancs role pluto press. This article examines the context in which the massacre occurred, the manner in which it was policed, and draws conclusions. In fact, the massacre at lonmin led to a successful strike at the platinum mines in 2014, which in turn ushered in major wage increases and a further estrangement of the workers movement from the anc alliance. Historical events such as these change structures and also create special vantage points, that have the potential to reveal the deeper frictions and fractures that produce and shape social transformation burawoy, 2001.
Unbeknown to them, zukiswa mbombo, the police chief of north west province, was planning a security crackdown that would put an end to the dispute. On the surface this appeared to be a noble gesture that could be celebrated as the middleclass public finally seeing things from the workingclass perspective. The consequences of the marikana massacre one year later. Uk news airs footage refuting police claims about murdered marikana miners. By bo staff writer today marks five years since 34 black mine workers were murdered for fighting for a r12 500 living wage. Facts not straight always, but thats from liberal bias. Another marikana possible, sibongile mashaba, the star 14 august 2018. Oct 24, 2014 marikana mamsi ngobeni sat alongside the main road of the platinum belt town of marikana, hunched over a table with a pile of onions, apples, loose cigarettes and tomatoes.
Almost 20 years after the demise of apartheid, it evoked memories of the past and raised questions about the postapartheid. This paper concludes by arguing that despite the continuing public outrage, neither lonmin nor the dmr have substantially redressed. Nkepile mabuse reports on the legacy of a massacre of striking miners shot dead by south african police during a protest. Johannesburg those who study media trends might have noticed how the colonial trope of the. The miners had been on strike against their british employer, lonmin platinum mine. Seeing it all article pdf available in safundi 164.
Aug 16, 2017 by bo staff writer today marks five years since 34 black mine workers were murdered for fighting for a r12 500 living wage. This silencing of workers voices contributed to the disempowerment of the one social force capable of disrupting exploitation in one of the most strategic industries of the. The marikana massacre 65 it was ironic that the anc, through the utterances by mthembu, pretended to only have known about the plight of the miners during the shooting at marikana. Inquiry into marikana massacre opens in south africa updated monday, 1 oct 2012 23. This article examines the early press coverage of the police massacre of striking mineworkers in marikana, south africa, on the 16th of august 2012. His project explores the dynamics of strike violence in postapartheid south africa by drawing case studies from the platinum mines before, during and after the marikana massacre.
Summary and analysis of the report of the marikana commission. Marikana massacre 16 august 2012 south african history. Unpacking the marikana massacre global labour column. We remember the marikana massacre 2012 20 consciousness. The marikana massacre and the contradictions of south. Dec 16, 20 the marikana massacre on 16 august 2012, strikers gathered for the eighth consecutive day of strike action at the lonmin plc marikana mine in south africa. Uk news airs footage refuting police claims about murdered marikana miners submitted by red jack on jan 29 20 03. May 14, 20 on august, three days before the massacre, he offered a chilling premonition about marikana. University of johannesburg, johannesburg, south africa equating a turning point with what william sewell terms an event, it is argued that marikana is a turning point in south african history. Marikana is the companys biggest south african mine.
The heartless killing of 34 striking miners at marikana on 16 august 2012 by the south african police startled the world both in the manner and period it happened. As a country, we witnessed the successful collaboration between industry, the labor movement officialdom, and the state machinery against the workers. The commissions first seating was on 1 october 2012, its final sitting was on 14 november 2014, and its report was submitted by president zuma on 31 march 2015. Oct 09, 2017 the role played by both ramaphosa and the national union of mineworkers num, leading to the mining massacre cannot be forgotten as the country continues to mourn this brutality. Num had demanded a deployment of the army in marikana long before the fateful day of august 16, 2012. Highlights of this document some of the highlights of this document include that. On 16 august 2012, the south african police service saps opened fire on a crowd of striking mineworkers at marikana, in the north west province. On august 4, 1946 over one thousand miners assembled in market square in johannesburg, south africa.
On the anniversary of a police massacre, many south africans are asking tough questions about economic inequality. What we found is even more shocking than the story presented in the media, even here in south africa. The marikana massacre, the rule of law and south africas. Dec 31, 2019 the marikana massacre, as an historical event, may be seen as a turning point in south african history alexander, 20. The killings occurred one week into a strike over pay by several. The police killed 34 mineworkers, and left 78 seriously injured. Cops who authorised marikana killing should be prosecuted by new npa head, sakhile ndlozi, pretoria news 15 august 2018. Marikana, lonmin, massacre, south africa, strike, violence, protest, unrest documentary on marikana massacre in 2012 during strike at lonmin mines. What marikana media coverage told us iol news that. Aug 16, 20 on august 16, thousands of people returned to the infamous koppies in marikana for the commemoration marking one year since 34 people were killed by police. In these strikes, miners managed to secure higher pay outside of the established collective bargaining system.
Marikana massacre 16 august 2012 south african history online. Below are some media articles and press releases on the marikana massacre. The shootings have been described as a massacre in the south african media and have been compared to the sharpeville massacre in 1960. Marikana commission of inquiry, days, page 18, transcript. Although one would agree on the opening of an investigation into the marikana question, but an investigation is also. The fate of the families supplement on the anniversary of the marikana massacre by niren tolsi and paul botes 16 august 20.