Plans to visit Marikana families have been delayed by various groups: Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa says plans to visit families of people killed in Marikana in 2012 have been delayed by the various groups that need to be consulted, including unions and community groups.

He says differences on how this should be done are being worked on.

He has also denied claims by National Freedom Party MP Ahmed Emam-Shaik that no compensation has been paid to victims.

He says over R174 million has been paid to the families of those who died and to those who were injured.

The President says there are outstanding payments that are being processed. Ramaphosa says it has always been his intention to visit the families.

Video: Compensation for the affected families and individuals remains pending:

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development’s Solicitor-General, Fhedzisani Phandelani, said in August most of the Marikana litigation cases have been settled and payment has been made to claimants.

Phandelani said the state already paid in the region of R70-million to 35 families, through the Wits Law Clinic that represented the families of the victims.

Thirty-four mineworkers were killed when police opened fire on the striking workers at the Wonderkop Koppie in Marikana nine years ago.

“If you were to evoke the once and for all rule you would actually accept that we paid just under R70-million on behalf of the 35 families. But it’s not so because SERI came back to us with damage claims which is something that is not easy to quantify. But we as the state we needed to approach these matters with some degree of humility.”

Phandelani said the only outstanding matter relates to the more than 200 injured miners and members of the public whom the Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI) represents.

He says the matter has been referred back to the court after the claimants rejected the state’s offer of R500 000 per claimant.

Remembering the Marikana massacre: