‘Zuma’s place is in jail’

And when camped against a common enemy, will establish the strangest alliances.

In August 2012, mineworkers at Lonmin’s platinum mine at Marikana went on a wildcat strike demanding a minimum salary of R12,500 a month.

“The families of those who were killed by the murderous regime led by the ANC and its brainless president”. No official ceremony has ever been held at Marikana. Distasteful and crass. Both of them.

Leaders of the DA and of the Economic Freedom Fighters were welcomed by thousands of cheering miners at Wonderkop.

“We had hoped that a black person will understand, only to find that the CEO is black outside and white inside. He represented [Lonmin] to defend murder at the commission [Farlam Commission of Inquiry]”, Malema said.

Ten others were killed in the days leading up to the shooting, during a violent and unprotected strike, which made worldwide headlines. Malema said that the ten people who died before August 16 were part of criminal activity.

PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma called on South Africans yesterday to remember the 44 people killed at the Marikana platinum mine on the third anniversary of the tragedy.

Mathunjwa said Marikana massacre has drawn attention to the plight of all mineworkers and revealed the collusion between the state and capitalists.

On August 16, 2012, 34 mineworkers were shot by the police.

“The tragedy of Marikana could have been avoided by an accountable, responsive government”, said Maimane.

National Police Commissioner General Riah Phiyega duly submitted her comments to the president on August 1.

Tom Lebert looks on as the South African government is exonerated despite failings.

Family members of slain miners also spoke.

“We are on record as saying that what happened in Marikana shouldn’t have happened”.

Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) leader Joseph Mathunjwa was expected to address the crowd later on Sunday. “We also want the Farlam Commission Inquiry finding to be reviewed”.

“Not because Zuma wanted to do a commission; he wanted to be seen doing something”.

Zuma still needs to decide on the future of Phiyega.

Criticism of the Farlam commission report is mounting on the basis that it failed to attribute specific blame; was apparently too soft on Lonmin and then director, now SA’s deputy president, Cyril Ramaphosa; and did not direct compensation be paid to the survivors and widows.

His conclusions and recommendations can only be meaningful if they are taken seriously and implemented by the state, and that requires political will. Numerous families who lost breadwinners are surviving on handouts.

The Legal Resources Centre, in its submission to the Inquiry, suggested the mine owners had cre¬ated an envi¬ron¬ment con¬ducive to labour unrest, and failed to put in place suf¬fi¬cient mea¬sures to ensure the safety of its employ¬ees.

Throughout the proceedings before the Marikana Commission, Advocate Ntsebeza was aware of the matters over which Judge Farlam had presided and had ample opportunity to raise whatever concerns he may have had with the learned Judge.