AFRICA/SOUTH AFRICA - Presentation of the report on the incidents in Marikana, in 2012: "a horrible tragedy"

Johannesburg (Agenzia Fides) - A judicial inquiry on the work of the police in the tragic events in the mine in Marikana and criticisms against the leadership of the Lomnin company, which manages the mine of platinum. These are the main conclusions of the report of 646 pages of the inquiry Commission on the incidents which occured in August 2012 in the mine in Marikana (see Fides 31/8/2012). From 11 to 16 August, miners were on strike because they were demanding a pay rise, there were serious incidents that led to the death of 44 people, the wounding of 70 others and the arrest of 250 individuals. The most serious incident dates back to August 16, 2012 when the police intervened by shooting against a crowd of strikers armed with bladed weapons, killing 34 people. The Commission ascertained that 17 people were hit in the back while they were being chased by the police.

The report was presented yesterday, June 25, live on television by President Jacob Zuma. "The incident in Marikana was a horrible tragedy that should not happen in a democracy", said Zuma. "We must, as a nation, learn lessons from this painful episode. We must build a more united, peaceful and united nation". (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 26/06/2015)