Johannesburg - A formal application will be made by Anglican Bishop Jo Seoka and the Marikana Support Group to have August 16, the day 34 mineworkers were killed in Marikana, to be declared a public holiday, the Sowetan reported on Friday.
“It is appropriate to campaign for August 16 to be a public holiday. Those workers did not die accidentally, they were massacred,” Seoka was quoted as saying.
“We must honour those fallen workers... Their children will know their parents died for a good cause.”
The application would be made to the department of home affairs. The newspaper did not say when it would be made.
On August 16, 2012, 34 people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police near Lonmin mine in Marikana, North West. More than 70 others were wounded.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed.
The Farlam Commission of Inquiry was established to investigate the deaths.
The commission concluded in November last year after a sitting lasting 300 days.
The commissioners were to prepare a final report, which would be submitted to President Jacob Zuma in March.
Sapa