President Cyril Ramaphosa briefs the National Assembly on government’s efforts to deal with the challenge of slow economic growth and high unemployment. The Presidents focus was on the economy as he took questions for oral reply in the National Assembly. (Photos: GCIS)
President Ramaphosa promises to visit Marikana after union engagement
Paul Sebegoe, SANCO’s chairman in North West province which is home to Marikana, said EFF leader Julius Malema had no say in whether Ramaphosa should go to Marikana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa briefs the National Assembly on government’s efforts to deal with the challenge of slow economic growth and high unemployment. The Presidents focus was on the economy as he took questions for oral reply in the National Assembly. (Photos: GCIS)
The South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) said on Monday it welcomed a call by labour federation COSATU for President Cyril Ramaphosa to visit Marikana, where 44 people died seven years ago during a violent strike at a Lonmin mine, including 34 protesting workers shot by police.
At the time, former businessman Ramaphosa was a non-executive director at Lonmin, and was slammed for some of the language he used to condemn the striking workers prior to the shooting, although a hearing into the massacre absolved him of blame.
Ramaphosa’s resolve welcomed, Malema blasted by SANCO
On Monday Paul Sebegoe, SANCO’s chairman in North West province which is home to Marikana, said opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema had no say in whether Ramaphosa should go to Marikana.
Malema has been critical of Ramaphosa’s part in the Marikana tragedy and has said the president can only go to the area if its community says he is welcome.
“The delusional Malema who prides himself as the master wedge driver and doomsayer forgets that the overwhelming electoral support that the (ruling) African National Congress-led alliance has received in Marikana during the past two elections suggest that the EFF is a non-factor in as far as determining the desirability of the proposed visit,” Sebegoe said in a statement.
He accused Malema of being among individuals who had deliberately sought to keep the government from engaging the Marikana community “for their own narrow and myopic political interests making it virtually impossible for meaningful dialogue necessary for the healing process to commence”.
“Though they appear to be sympathetic, rekindling the anger of miners including deepening the pain of the Marikana widows and orphans appears to be the strongest hold they do not want to lose for their political survival,” the SANCO provincial chairman added.
He said the proposed COSATU/Ramaphosa visit in October should not be a public relations exercise but a heart-to-heart engagement that would foster reconciliation after the August 2012 tragedy.
By African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Stella Mapenzauswa.
