Reviewed by Bishop Johannes Seoka, Andries Nkome and Thumeka Magwangqana
Since Bishop Jo Seoka attended the Lonmin AGM in January 2017, he reports that little progress has been made at Marikana, despite promises made by the company. Community representatives therefore have the following demands.
Lonmin must make an apology to the entire South African nation and to the victims of the Massacre, (families of the deceased, the injured and the arrested) of August 2012.
Lonmin must pay reparations to the affected parties, including all dependents of the deceased mineworkers and the injured and arrested workers who survived the Massacre.
The reparations must also cover all psychological damage and/or emotional trauma for those who witnessed the arrests, injuries and deaths that took place during the massacre
Lonmin must join calls for the miners who are in prison as a result of the massacre to be released, and for police officers and intellectual authors (i.e. politicians) of the Massacre to be prosecuted.
There must be full and proper consultation by Lonmin with all affected parties regarding the proposed commemorative monument.
Lonmin must take public responsibility for the environmental destruction at Marikana.
Lonmin must ensure that people in the communities around the mine have sufficient water, proper sanitation and electricity
Lonmin must fully comply with its current obligations under its Social and Labour Plan (SLP), including the development of 2638 (rental and ownership) accommodation units and 6000 apartments and ensure that these are genuinely affordable for mineworkers and the community, within the stipulated time-frames.
Lonmin must add its voice to those calling for the review of the Farlam commission and actually finance the legal process.
The company must stop using the excuse that it is now insolvent: it has made huge profits over the years. It must tell us what it has done with the money appropriated in 2011-12.
If the company is sold, the new ownership must take responsibility for the massacre and reparations for the massacre, for providing housing and livelihoods and the other promises made.
The company must guarantee livelihoods for the workers if a takeover by Sibanye-Stillwater occurs.
Money must be set aside in the purchase price of Lonmin to assist with financing sustainable developmental projects, with independent problem-solving mechanisms and counselling but not limited to Sikhala Sonke.
A covenant with specific time-frames must be entered into between the company and the entire mining community and must not only be with investors.