Marikana inquiry’s mistakes call for a rethink
ON October 1 last year, the Marikana Commission of Inquiry held its first day of hearings into the events of and before August 16 of that year, during which 45 people were killed. The commission’s chairman, Judge Ian Farlam, asked his colleague, advocate Bantubonke Tokota, to read the names of those who died and for the family members present to stand as the names of their loved ones were called out. No one stood up. There were no family members in the auditorium because neither the commission nor the government had contacted them or invited them. Yet this evident absence did not cause Farlam to pause, and the commission trundled forward regardless.
See http://www.bdlive.co.za/opinion/2013/09/11/marikana-inquirys-mistakes-call-for-a-rethink.
Cyril, remember Marikana?
In two weeks, supporters of the Marikana Support Campaign have disrupted two events with senior ANC leaders at the University of Witswatersrand. Last month it was Trevor Manuel. On Monday night, it was his National Planning Commission colleague, ANC Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa. He was there to sell the National Development’s Plan’s vision for the economy. Instead, the crowd was reminded of the ongoing outrage over last year’s massacre and Ramaphosa’s Lonmin links.
See http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2013-09-11-cyril-remember-marikana/#.Ujh3L3-s-So.