FRIENDS OF THE YOUTH LEAGUE STATEMENT ON THE DECISION OF THE STATE TO PRESS MURDER CHARGES AGAINST MINEWORKERS FOR THE MASSACRE CAUSED BY THE POLICE

30 August 2012

Today, the 30th of August 2012, the South African National Prosecutions Authority announced that it is going to press murder charges against Lonmin mineworkers for the killing of 34 mineworkers by the South African police in the Marikana pre-planned massacre. This decision is the most bizarre, hilarious, horrible, insensitive, disgusting, terrible, sick, and totally unacceptable decision any sensitive government of the people can ever take. How on earth can the South African police, with the approval of its most senior leaders, kill workers and then turn to lay charges of murder on those who could not be killed, and survived death in the hands of the State?

The decisions of the NPA to charge mineworkers reveals that the South African government and all its State apparatuses do not regret the murders and massacre of the mineworkers. The mourning displayed by some of the Ministers, the flying of the South African flag at half mast, the assurances given by Mr. Jacob Zuma and his cabinet are nothing by pure lies to mislead workers, and the people of South Africa that they care whilst they clearly not. How justifiable is the decision of the State to arrest workers, some of whom do not have the required medical care, keep them in prison, and now want to accuse them of the per-planned massacre of innocent workers? 

We are also dismayed by the decision of the Garankuwa Magistrate Court of allowing the State to postpone the bail application of workers, keeping them in prisons, and denying them the opportunity to bury family members, relatives and co-workers who were killed in the pre-planned massacre by the South African police.

In South African law, it is always envisaged that those who get arrested should appear for bail application within 48 hours, but the Lonmin mineworkers are now in police stations and prisons for more than 15 days and will be for more than 20 days before they appear for bail application. After listening nd observing the inconsistencies and confused messages of the Magistrate in Garankuwa Court, we fairly think that the presiding Magistrate in the case against Lonmin workers is not suitable enough to handle such a complex and very big case like the one of the workers arrested after the Lonmin pre-planned massacre.

South Africa's highest Courts should without invitation pay closer attention to what is happening in Garankuwa Magistrate Court, because plainly the Court is dismally failing to administer justice. South Africa experienced lots of pain to attain the fairness, equality and justice for all citizens in the Constitution, and such cannot be undermined by Courts. How is it possible that the police who killed workers have not yet been arrested, despite the fact that workers opened a police case against the police who killed mineworkers in Marikana police stations eith case numbers 167/08/2012 and 168/082012? How is it possible that mineworkers are the ones who are detained, whilst the killers are roaming the streets, possibly waiting for another instruction to commit another massacre? 

All people of South Africa, African continent, African diaspora and the world should voice their rejection of pure injustices against mineworkers. The suffering of mineworkers across all Mines in South Africa is unbearable, as most are paid even lesser than the legislated minimum wages.

In Aurora Mine is Ekurhuleni, mineworkers are left stranded and are owed their salaries and provident funds because those who used to own the Mine have vanished and the Liquidators seem to not care about the conditions and situation of workers. Wives and children of deceased husbands and fathers are still stranded in Aurora, waiting for the provident funds of their husbands and fathers who worked in the Mines for many years. This is despite the fact that Mr. Jacob Zuma assured to resolve their conditions when he visited them with the Mayor of Ekurhuleni Municipality.

As Economic Freedom Fighters, we will not sit back when Mineworkers are brutally exploited with no protection from the State and South African government. We will do everything in our power and we will go anywhere in South Africa, Africa and the world in pursuit of total freedom and emancipation of the exploited mineworkers in South Africa. No surrender! No retreat! ASIJIKI!

Statement issued by the Friends of the Youth League, August 30 2012

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