[miningmx.com] – LONMIN did not use its best endeavours to resolve disputes and the Association of Mineworkers & Construction Union (AMCU) did not exercise effective control over members ahead of the August 16, 2012 Marikana atrocity in which 34 miners were shot dead by police.
President Jacob Zuma brought a three-year inquiry into the events to a close delivering the findings of a report which left community members angry as senior ANC members, including deputy president, Cyril Ramaphosa, who was a director of Lonmin at the time, were exonerated of blame.
“The [Farlam] commission has found that Lonmin did not use its best endeavours to resolve the disputes that arose between itself and its workers who participated in the unprotected strike on the one hand and between the strikers and those workers who did not participate in the strike,’ said Zuma.
“Officials of AMCU did not exercise effective control over Amcu members, in ensuring that their conduct was lawful and did not endanger the lives of others,’ he said.
Lonmin said the report findings required its “detailed consideration” before it could take further action or make a full response. However, Ben Magara, Lonmin CEO, said the company had moved a long way since the tragedy in building a trusting environment between employees.
“I cannot say that we have fully achieved this yet, but I can say that we have made progress, and we will continue to do so in conjunction with other stakeholders,” said Magara in a statement.
