Government and the South African Police Service (Saps) leadership have escaped responsibility for the Marikana massacre and should be held to account‚ opposition parties argued in Parliament on Thursday.
A snap debate was held in the National Assembly on Thursady to mark the three-year anniversary of the August 2012 tragedy‚ but the African National Congress (ANC) did not field any members of cabinet as speakers‚ although Police Minister Nathi Nhleko remained in the house throughout the debate and deputy Mineral Resources minister Godfrey Oliphant closed the debate.
The Farlam Commission released its findings in June‚ recommending major changes in the SAPS and an enquiry into the fitness of National Police Commissioner General Riah Phiyega to hold office. President Jacob Zuma said this week he was still considering this issue.
No recommendations were made regarding members of the executive‚ including Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Things got off to a fiery start when Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema stepped up to the podium‚ and referred to the events of August 16 as “the premeditated mass murder of mine workers” and accusing Ramaphosa of “influencing the decision to murder the workers”.
Despite a point of order raised from the ANC benches‚ and repeated attempts by presiding officer Grace Boroto to silence Malema‚ he continued through his speech‚ later claiming he had not heard Boroto.
Malema said that “there must not be another Eugene de Kock”‚ who was sacrificed for the ills of apartheid while the executive went unpunished.
Earlier in the day‚ Nhleko used his ministerial reply to a motion from Democratic Alliance (DA) member Phumzile van Damme to say that the Farlam Commission had been about accountability.
“In the history of this country‚ they killed our people and no one was ever held accountable‚” he said.
DA leader Mmusi Maimane said “not a single member of the executive or SAPS has been disciplined”.
“The standards cannot be apartheid. We are reducing society to the worst evil in our nation‚” he said.
Maimane also called for the families of those who were killed to be compensated for the loss of their loved ones.
Maimane said Zuma had “passed the buck” on compensation‚ and families had to approach the courts this week for relief.
The Inkatha Freedom Party’s Mangaqa Mncwango‚ meanwhile‚ said the Farlam Commission report was being used as a “whitewash” and an “order for the exoneration of those who are more equal than others”.
ANC MP and chairman of the police portfolio committee Francois Beukman said there had been no factual findings against any of the members of the executive.
He also called on MPs to analyse the findings‚ implement the recommendations and move forward.
Nhleko will appear before the police committee on August 26 to discuss plans to implement the recommendations of the report which affected the police.
ANC MP Connie September said “this tragedy should not be used to divide our country”‚ and pointed to the “subjective and narrow interests of a specific political party” who sought to “apportion blame” to individuals and the government. – Parliamentary Bureau
IFP: Farlam report being used as a ‘order for exoneration’
Government and the South African Police Service (Saps) leadership have escaped responsibility for the Marikana massacre and should be held to account‚ opposition parties argued in Parliament on Thursday.
A snap debate was held in the National Assembly on Thursady to mark the three-year anniversary of the August 2012 tragedy‚ but the African National Congress (ANC) did not field any members of cabinet as speakers‚ although Police Minister Nathi Nhleko remained in the house throughout the debate and deputy Mineral Resources minister Godfrey Oliphant closed the debate.
The Farlam Commission released its findings in June‚ recommending major changes in the SAPS and an enquiry into the fitness of National Police Commissioner General Riah Phiyega to hold office. President Jacob Zuma said this week he was still considering this issue.
No recommendations were made regarding members of the executive‚ including Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Things got off to a fiery start when Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema stepped up to the podium‚ and referred to the events of August 16 as “the premeditated mass murder of mine workers” and accusing Ramaphosa of “influencing the decision to murder the workers”.
Despite a point of order raised from the ANC benches‚ and repeated attempts by presiding officer Grace Boroto to silence Malema‚ he continued through his speech‚ later claiming he had not heard Boroto.
Malema said that “there must not be another Eugene de Kock”‚ who was sacrificed for the ills of apartheid while the executive went unpunished.
Earlier in the day‚ Nhleko used his ministerial reply to a motion from Democratic Alliance (DA) member Phumzile van Damme to say that the Farlam Commission had been about accountability.
“In the history of this country‚ they killed our people and no one was ever held accountable‚” he said.
DA leader Mmusi Maimane said “not a single member of the executive or SAPS has been disciplined”.
“The standards cannot be apartheid. We are reducing society to the worst evil in our nation‚” he said.
Maimane also called for the families of those who were killed to be compensated for the loss of their loved ones.
Maimane said Zuma had “passed the buck” on compensation‚ and families had to approach the courts this week for relief.
The Inkatha Freedom Party’s Mangaqa Mncwango‚ meanwhile‚ said the Farlam Commission report was being used as a “whitewash” and an “order for the exoneration of those who are more equal than others”.
ANC MP and chairman of the police portfolio committee Francois Beukman said there had been no factual findings against any of the members of the executive.
He also called on MPs to analyse the findings‚ implement the recommendations and move forward.
Nhleko will appear before the police committee on August 26 to discuss plans to implement the recommendations of the report which affected the police.
ANC MP Connie September said “this tragedy should not be used to divide our country”‚ and pointed to the “subjective and narrow interests of a specific political party” who sought to “apportion blame” to individuals and the government. – Parliamentary Bureau
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