Executive Director of the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI) Nomzamo Zondi says victims of the Marikana Massacre are still waiting for justice and an apology from President Cyril Ramaphosa, 11 years after the tragedy.
SERI, which represents the families of 34 striking miners who were killed by police in August 2012 at a mine in Marikana, North West, says they demand that government pay for damages related to the pain felt by affected families.
Scores of mineworkers to gather at the Koppie to commemorate the massacre:
Zondi says the state has failed to fathom the impact of the massacre.
“In the claim that we brought we asked for an apology and we asked that the state funds the families who need to see phycologists to process their trauma and grief. The grief has affected their health and we then also asked for two separate claims for compensation for the damage caused,” adds Zondi.
“It’s a claim for emotional shock and grief, general damages and the other claim is for the state to pay compensation to the loss of parental care and the loss of spousal support. And at the top of our list is an apology which Ramaphosa spoke twice about it but has not come,” explains Zondi.
The audio below is reporting more on the story:
