Mzwandile Jacks
VENTURES AFRICA – South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma, on Tuesday told parliament that the long-awaited Marikana report will be released at the end of next month.
This came after increasing pressure from miners, unions and political leaders, who demanded that Zuma release the report on the death of 43 people during a miners’ strike in 2012.
In March this year, The Farlam Commission of Inquiry handed over the report with its recommendations to Zuma after nearly two years of investigation/hearings.
On Tuesday, the Economic Freedom Fighters’ spokesperson, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, asked Zuma when the Marikana report would be released.
“I know and appreciate the anxiety of those who are affected. However, it would be inappropriate for me to just release the report without applying my mind,” Zuma responded to Ndlozi in the National Assembly.
On Monday this week, the workers wounded and detained during the Marikana massacre, their families, and labour union Amcu, said they would move towards the courts to compel Zuma to release the Marikana report.
Andries Mkome, the lawyer representing all parties, told News24 they would make an urgent application asking the president to release the report.
He said they had written to Zuma asking for him to release the report and if that did not happen, they would have no option but to approach the courts.