Three years after the Marikana tragedy, Lonmin says it has learnt a number of lessons from what they call “the week that changed our lives.”
The mining company has put in place a number of measures to help uplift the families of the deceased miners, such as paying for their children’s education, and offering their widows jobs.
Lonmin’s Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications, Lerato Molebatsi says an education fund for children of the deceased has been set up, and the mine has paid R5 million to date towards the children’s education, including uniforms, food, accommodation and transport and is already bearing fruits.
Molebatsi says a tremendously positive outcome of the tragedy, is the bravery shown by the Marikana widows.
Lonmin says the biggest lesson learnt from the Marikana is that partnership with all stakeholders is critically important.
However, the company is planning to cut up to 6 000 jobs; and Molebatsi cannot give any assurances that should this happen, the deceased miners’ families will be protected from such retrenchments.
