Rustenburg - The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Friday, called on President Jacob Zuma to release the finding of the Farlam Commission report into the Marikana tragedy to the public.
“ The NEC (National Executive Committee) welcomes the conclusion of the Marikana Commission`s report by Judge (Ian) Farlam which has been handed over to the President of the Country . The NEC calls on President Zuma to apply his mind on the report and release the findings to the public,” the union said in a statement after its NEC meeting.
The meeting was held from Tuesday to Wednesday in Midrand.
“The NEC looks forward to the recommendations and their implementation .While noting the busy schedules of the president, the NEC believes the sooner the president releases the findings to the public the better for South Africans in general and the mining industry in particular.”
President Zuma appointed retired judge Ian Farlam to chair a commission probing a shooting incident at Marikana in North West in 2012 in which 44 people were killed during labour-related unrest.
Rock drill operators at Lonmin platinum mine in Marikana spearheaded a wildcat strike demanding a minimum monthly salary of R12 500.
The workers rejected the NUM and elected a workers committee to represent them.
Armed with spears, knobkerries, iron rod and pangas, they camped on top of a koppie (hill) near Nkaneng informal settlement in Wonderkop, refusing to descend and demanding to meet mine management at the koppie.
On August 16, 2012, 34 mineworkers were killed when the police fired at them, apparently attempting to disarm them. Ten people, including two policemen and two Lonmin security guards, had been killed in the preceding week.
After two years of public hearings, the commission handed its report to the presidency at the end of March.
ANA