Media Statement by Bench Marks Foundation Marikana a year later: still walking on a knife’s edge 13 August 2013 For immediate release The instability and tension that gave rise to the Marikana Massacre a year ago, is still palpable and will remain so until the socio-economic conditions that gave rise to the events in the first place are addressed, says the Bench Marks Foundation. Lonmin, along with the other platinum- producing companies in the area, bear responsibility for the negative impacts of mining on the lives of people in the Bojanala district. The Marikana tragedy cannot be understood without looking at the negative economic, social and environmental impacts of platinum mining for both workers and local communities in the area. Living conditions for workers in the platinum mines are unacceptable, as many workers live in shacks and informal settlements. “Very little has changed for the mineworkers and those living in Marikana, in the North West Province of South Africa a year after the massacre that took the lives of more than 40 people and injured scores more on 16 August 2012,” says John Capel, Executive Director of the Bench Marks Foundation, an independent organisation monitoring corporate performance in the field of corporate social responsibility (CSR). “We continue to walk on a knife’s edge in Marikana. “Deaths are still occurring, the mines have still not addressed many of their CSR promises and we have still not come to the bottom of what actually happened on that fateful day.” A year ago we recommended to Lonmin to accept: - that it has a social responsibility to address aftermath effects of trauma being experienced by communities and workers. We would like to know what plans the company has created to do this and when it has or will be implemented; - that it pay compensation to the families of the deceased and the wounded workers equal to their loss of income for the next 20 years; - that it must contribute to a trauma fund that can help pay for the trauma and counselling centre; and - that it should contribute at least 10% of its profits toward community development, where community development committees will decide on what should be done and how. Capel says that the lack of funding to hire legal representation for the Farlam Commission for the families of the miners who were killed that day as well as for the mineworkers who were wounded and arrested, as opposed to the apparent surplus of financial support to the various government bodies, is further compounding the mistrust the community has toward the government, police and mines. And it is fueling the friction and hostility in the area. In addition, communities want to be heard. They have submitted a paper to the Farlam Commission on how they bear the negative impacts of mining. This cannot be minimised nor ignored. We note that the big platinum mining houses like Amplats, have gone on the offensive, closing shafts and retrenching workers. It must be noted that already over 30 000 sub-contracted workers have lost their jobs between 2007 and 2011. “It is unacceptable that financial support has only been extended to a select few and that a year later, those who were actually involved and present when the shooting occurred have still not had the opportunity to tell their side of the story. “Instead, we continue to have hearsay evidence at the Farlam Commission.” Capel said that this haphazard approach is a clear indication that the government is not taking the proceedings or the volatility of the area as seriously as it should. “There is a massive need to not only accelerate the Farlam Commission’s proceedings, but to address pertinent public interest issues such as the role of the police, the policing of protests in South Africa, and the culpability of the police and government in relation to this. But most importantly to address the socio economic issues plaguing mining communities and workers. “Not to mention the need to investigate the lack of impartiality of the government toward the mines in South Africa and the mines’ continued exploitation of workers and the environment.” Lastly we call on Lonmin to agree to give workers the day off on the 16th August 2013 to commemorate the loss of lives and the sacrifice of so many workers for a living wage. For more articles and videos on Marikana, go to bench-marks.org.za or contact Bench Marks on 011 832 1743. Notes to editors: Bench Marks Foundation is an independent non-governmental organisation mandated by churches to monitor the practices of multi-national corporations to • ensure they respect human rights; • protect the environment; • ensure that profit-making is not done at the expense of other interest groups; and • ensure that those most negatively impacted upon are heard, protected and accommodated within the business plans of the corporations. Archbishop Desmond Tutu launched the Foundation in 2001 and the Rt Rev Dr Jo Seoka chairs the organisation. Bench Marks Foundation Contact: Mr John Capel, Executive Director 011 832 1743 or 082 870 8861 Email: [email protected]
Posted on: Mon, 02 Sep 2013 08:47:57 +0000
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