Ramaphosa pledges to compensate Marikana tragedy families

SOUTH African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, would ensure families of 44 miners who died during clashes with police during the Mariakana platinum protests of 2012 would be compensated, said BusinessLive citing comments made by Ramaphosa.

Taking the podium during his reply to the state of the nation address debate on February 19, Ramaphosa said: “We must be prepared‚ as government‚ that where we have failed our people‚ where we have made mistakes‚ we take steps to correct those mistakes. One was the Marikana tragedy, which stands out as the darkest moment in the life our young democracy”.

Said Ramaphosa to a round of applause: “Members will recall that the commission of inquiry headed by retired Judge [Ian] Farlam investigated the direct and root causes of the tragedy”.

Quoting Ramaphosa, BusinessLive reported that three broad areas were identified for action by the Farlam Commission: compensation for the injured and families; examining the procedures of public order policing; and preparing valid cases for prosecution if there are applicable laws.

Judge Farlam‚ a retired judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal‚ was appointed as the chairperson of the commission on August 23 2012‚ by former president Jacob Zuma.