• Tweet

The cost of the whole thing is estimated between R50-million and R70m.

There is something unethical and troubling here when you consider the fact that last weekend the families of those who were murdered were given food parcels.

Yes, the commission will spend more than R50-million and the families of those who died for a living wage are given food parcels. This is simply not right.

South Africa is a country where the rich prey on the weak and poor.

The Marikana massacre is now another opportunity for retired judges, lawyers, advocates, researchers and NGOs to make names and money. Others are already shooting films, others organising conferences and books. It's a terrible feeding frenzy.

The only people who will not eat are those who died for a living wage. Sowetan reported that "hundreds of unemployed young men and women from Eastern Cape, who 'assisted' with the strike still have nothing".

This shows that the whole Marikana massacre was a community protest for a better life.

Now most of the unemployed will go back to the barren Eastern Cape to be ravaged by hunger and poverty.

But the government has set aside money for a commission but not compensation for the affected. This is where this whole thing becomes an evil money making scheme.

A principle should be established that no one should make money out of the misery of others.

A good start would be to insist that of the 45 families whose beloved were murdered, each share the equivalent of the cost of the commission.

If the commission costs R50-million, let the families also be given a start of about R1-million each.

There is also the question of what will this commission actually do? Didn't we all see what happened in our television sets?

Didn't investigative reports by organisations such as the September National Imbizo and other journalists show what happened?

Don't we know the underlying causes?

Don't we know already that workers demanded a living wage, the mining bosses called the ANC to its defence, and the ANC sent special forces that opened fire and killed scores of men, most shot in the back?

What the government and its alliance partners like Cosatu should be doing is simply to ask for forgiveness from society and then proceed to impose a blanket R12500 as a minimum wage in all the major sectors as an honour to the mineworkers who were murdered so publicly and brutally.

Secondly, if the government cared for the people, it would insist that all mineworkers become owners of mines and participated not only in digging gold and platinum but the profits and management.

The report of the commission will tell us nothing we don't know.

We can only hope that some sense of guilt will prevail and they will recommend compensation to the value of the commission for the children and families of those who died for demanding what is promised in the our Constitution.

But I doubt they will.

Comments

• Sign in or sign up to comment

Sat May 25 12:58:57 SAST 2013 ::

Oct 2, 2012

pla-SENT-a

The Marikana probe will unleash things we don`t know. what do we know? We cannot depend on things we got from the media and say we know everything. Lets give them chance and critisize their report. Right now its to early to critisize. Unless if we were there...
Report Abuse

Oct 2, 2012

cornelius

Interesting angle on this, and I agree with Andile that R 1 mill to each family would do far more good than this commission. At least, if it is found that the SAPS acted recklessly and wrongfully, the families can claim compensation from SAPS in a civil court, even if the commission does not have the power to order compensation.
Report Abuse

Oct 2, 2012

Goldstone

If the commision will get results that will lead to the arrest of those involved then it must continue, Poor consultation leads to poor policy,
Report Abuse

Oct 2, 2012

Sokheshe1905

Your article sound like “Dear sis Dudu”. Your thinking revolves around the millions not Marikana tragedy. You need to research your work and understand that it’s not about retired judges and your assumptions. Research about the works of the commission and reserve your comments for the outcomes.
Report Abuse

Oct 2, 2012

cornelius

@ Sokhese1905, maybe you can enlighten us as to the good that his commission will serve ? I predict an incoclusive outcome, with all kinds of theoretical recommnedation made as to how SAPS should exercise crowd control in future, how the events were precipitated by a confluence of factors, blah blah blah.
Report Abuse

Oct 3, 2012

Traveljunie

Another rubbish article by Andile. Generilisations like " South Africa is a country where the rich prey on the weak and poor." and money to be made for judges, only discredit this entire piece.
Report Abuse

Oct 3, 2012

kuyozekubenini

An old apartheid syndrom.........criminals investigating themselves.
Report Abuse

Oct 3, 2012

Mgaraji

Earlier reports indicated that it will commission R 25 million, now Sowetan lies indicate double amount to almost triple. Who is lying? Andile can you leave a learned judge to finish his task. The fact that jornos have the platform to write, it must not be abused into beliveing they are the greatest professionals on earth.
Report Abuse

Oct 3, 2012

OASIS

Andile, you are so hell-bent on discrediting ANC government! You ilk kept blaming the government fo doing nothing re Marikana and when a commission of enquiry is set up, yo try to find fault in everything they are trying to establish. Remember we are not fools, and I for one can see your ulterior motives! You remind me of a friend who always complains about seasons, summer, winter, autumn and spring. Get a life!
Report Abuse

Oct 4, 2012

ktzo

We know the following
- Police killed the miners
- Num was rejected by members and lots members to Amcu so there was a clash
- Miners earn little
- miners live in rubbish places
- Miners work under terrible dangerous conditions
- Mine Bosses live in luxury and earn big
- ANC government doesnt care about labour issues.

What else new can the commision come up with??

Report Abuse

Read all 10 comments